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Numerous native Irish animals face extinction due to foreign invasion

The Irish hare, red squirrel red deer and pygmy shrew under threat

By
BERNIE MALONE,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 8:24 AM
Updated Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 9:37 AM

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Rare red deer
Rare red deer
Photo by Google Images


A number of animals native to Ireland may face extinction if foreign invading species are not controlled, new research suggests.

A two-year study suggests that the Irish hare, red squirrel and red deer could be wiped out in Ireland and shows that the country’s smallest mammal, the pygmy shrew, has “completely vanished” in some areas.

The study entitled ‘Invasional meltdown’ was conducted by scientists at the Queen’s University Belfast.

The research showed “local extinction” and “rapid and complete” replacement of the pygmy shrew in certain areas due to the introduction of new foreign species. 

“The introduction of alien mammals to Ireland over the last 100 years has had major detrimental effects, threatening our indigenous habitats and species,” said lead researcher Professor Ian Montgomery.

“The American grey squirrel, for example, passes a deadly virus to native red squirrels, whilst European hares threaten the ecological and genetic integrity of the native Irish hare through competition and interbreeding”.

The study is published in the international scientific journal Biological Invasions.

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18 Comments

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eiriamach | Feb 24, 2012, 06:56 PM EST
Geeee, that's right! You see, ciaradexy, there's a law against trapping or killing grey squirrels in my state. There's the same problem with George Dillon! So occasionally I just need to rant about it.

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ciaradexy | Feb 24, 2012, 12:05 PM EST
Eiriamach-Sounds like George Dillon!

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eiriamach | Feb 23, 2012, 05:59 PM EST
In my area, the American grey squirrel is a loathsome, cannibalistic, flea-infested, disease-and-parasite-carrying, tree-dwelling rodent that chomps through three-inch oak branches, destroys trees, and drives out nesting birds. Be careful trapping these vermin, but if you let them spread, they will take over!

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ciaradexy | Feb 23, 2012, 10:50 AM EST
Sirpete, youre dead right! What did the American gray squirrel ever do for us?

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sirpeter | Feb 22, 2012, 10:46 PM EST
Indeed Georgie.But at least we are not boring and bland now.I can honestly say diversity is not your strong point Georgie Boy.Bland and boring is exactly what you are.But you under estimate how inclusive the Irish born are on this site.The Irish here have given you an important position on IC that of Irish American village idiot.Don't knock it Georgie Boy the competition was incredibly high.

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Claredaughter | Feb 22, 2012, 07:10 PM EST
Why is the American gray squirrel even in Ireland to start with? Just put a bounty on them, they'll be gone in a flash. Good source of income for a few people and problem solved.

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ciaradexy | Feb 22, 2012, 04:53 PM EST
I just read that Americans are passing a virus on to the Irish George.

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merefalow | Feb 22, 2012, 04:03 PM EST
EXTINGTION OF NATIVE ANIMALS,WHO EVER GAVE A F,,,, ABOUT ALL THE POOR SNAKE,S THAT MURDERING ST PATRICK DESTROYED WHEN HE WAS LOADED UP ON POTEEN.

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ciaradexy | Feb 22, 2012, 03:57 PM EST
Georgie, Irish people will become extinct if we stop having kids or we are all murdered by foreigners. Its quite an easy concept to work out.

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GeorgeDillon | Feb 22, 2012, 03:45 PM EST
The most endangered species in Ireland is called Homo Hibernicus. It is forecast that by the middle of this century it will be all but extinct due to colonization of the island by foreign invaders. It's sad when the world loses diversity and globalization continues its boring and bland march.

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ciaradexy | Feb 22, 2012, 03:29 PM EST
Carrickcourt,''I remember being made aware of the decline of Ireland's red squirrel because of the introduced North American gray squirrel by my late Irish second cousin once removed Tom.'' Was he a friend of Eileen from Killanny who was my grand aunt twice removed through marriage, friend Tom from Glendalough who was a fisherman but whose parents were from Cong in Mayo who may or may not have originated in Abbeyleix? Sirpete, it looks like an American is the greatest threat to the native Irish and not those other nasty foreigners at all!

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sirpeter | Feb 22, 2012, 03:16 PM EST
They should put a bounty on the American grey squirrel.They are much too aggressive for the Native red squirrel.

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carrickcourt | Feb 22, 2012, 01:46 PM EST
The loss of species native to Ireland is a tragedy but unfortunately a product of a world much more connected then in the past. I remember being made aware of the decline of Ireland's red squirrel because of the introduced North American gray squirrel by my late Irish second cousin once removed Tom. Being a bird watcher and general nature watcher I was amazed at a general lack of nature awareness in Ireland. The number of bird species one can see in Ireland is relatively small.

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hybernia | Feb 22, 2012, 01:29 PM EST
A Red Squirrel visited my bird feeder this year. Beautiful little fellow and quiet tame, grandson got within six feet of him.

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Searlit | Feb 22, 2012, 01:01 PM EST
There is a reason nature chooses diversity. It's survival. Decreasing species means fewer survival mechanisms for all life.

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