The Flickr Wildlifeireland Image Generatr

Cygnet and Swan at the Duck pond in Arklow

Tame Robin at the Botanic Gardens in Dublin

Robin in a Tree at the national botanic gardens in Dublin

Red Panda @ Dublin Zoo

Ireland is home to two distinct types of squirrels, each with its unique characteristics and ecological footprint: the native red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and the non-native grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). The red squirrel, cherished for its vibrant russet fur and bushy tail, has been a part of the Irish landscape for thousands of years, residing predominantly in coniferous and mixed woodlands where they can be seen acrobatically navigating the treetops. In contrast, the grey squirrel, introduced from North America in the early 20th century, has a larger, more robust physique and a coat that ranges from grey to almost black, with a distinctive white underbelly. Although admired for its adaptability, the grey squirrel poses a significant threat to the red squirrel population through competition for food resources and the spread of a virus to which red squirrels are susceptible but against which grey squirrels are largely immune. The interaction between these two species has been a focus of conservation efforts in Ireland, aiming to protect the native red squirrel's habitat and existence.

Grey Squirrel in a tree at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin

Deer in Phoenix Park Dublin

Deer in Dublin's Phoenix Park

Squirrel at the Botanic Gardens in Dublin

Hooded Crow at the Botanic Gardens in Dublin

Fallow Deer at the Phoenix Park Dublin.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Rat peeking out from the ivy

Little Gosling in Arklow.

Greylag Goose mother with goslings at pond

Grey Squirrel at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin

Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) perched on a tree stump

Mother Goose and goslings in Arklow.

Grey Heron at St Stephen's Green Park in Dublin

Smiling Deer at the Phoenix Park in Dublin