Living The Wildlife

Pine Marten and the Squirrel (2x2)

Air date: May 09, 2009

Colin sets about capturing a Pine Martin and finds out how destructive the greedy Grey Squirrel has been to the Red Squirrels chances of surival. Centuries ago, Ireland was an island covered in trees. Animals would realm the woodland across the country and never touch the ground. However as the years have passed, this landscape has disappeared, and the appaearance of the country is now very much open. In the second episode of Living the Wildlife, Colin Stafford-Johnson takes a journey into the country’s remaing isolated pockets of woodland, and discovers that while some creatures have adapted to this new landscape, there are those that are really struggling. Travelling first to Waterford, Colin sets off to find the Pine Martin. With an appearance resembling that of a cross between an otter and a fox, it is rarely seen by human eyes and as a result it has been difficult to determine how many of them inhabit our woodland areas. Peter Turner who is an expert on the creature has only seen one during his lifetime! Using some extremely novel methods, Colin, Peter and a team of dedicated experts attempt to track down and film these fascinating creatures, while establishing just how many of them now roam our woods. Another animal on the decline is The Red Squirrel. Making his way to Beleek Woods, in Ballina, Co. Mayo, he meets the locals such as Cyril Cusack who are on a mission to repopulate the woods with this native creature. With the Red Squirrel on the verge of disappearing forever- thanks to the introduction of their greedy cousin, the Grey Squirrel – it becomes evident that efforts like this are essential if they are ever going to have a future. Getting into camouflage mode, Colin manages to capture them on film, while in the process showing us why these little guys are so worth saving.