{"id":364565,"date":"2026-03-02T22:29:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T22:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/364565\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T22:29:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T22:29:09","slug":"creature-described-as-rare-and-elusive-spotted-at-stormont-the-irish-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/364565\/","title":{"rendered":"Creature described as \u2018rare and elusive\u2019 spotted at Stormont \u2013 The Irish News"},"content":{"rendered":"

A \u2018rare and elusive\u2019 furry friend has been captured on cameras at Stormont.<\/p>\n

The uncommon Pine Marten has been difficult to spot in Northern Ireland<\/a> in recent years. <\/p>\n

However, an Ulster Wildlife<\/a> survey of pine martens, red squirrels, and grey squirrels, carried out across 218 woodlands, found that pine martens were present in almost double the number of sites compared to a previous survey in 2017.<\/p>\n

That is certainly the case for the Stormont<\/a> Estate area, where one has been spotted recently.<\/p>\n

\"‘Heavenly<\/a>\"Security<\/a><\/p>\n

Posting to social media, the Northern Ireland Assembly uploaded the moment resident \u2018Stormy\u2019 was sighted: \u201cThis rare and elusive visitor was spotted exploring the woodland behind Parliament Buildings. <\/p>\n

\u201cMoments like this help us celebrate and better understand the amazing wildlife that thrives right here on the estate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Meet Stormy, our resident pine marten. Captured on our nocturnal cameras last week, this rare and elusive visitor was spotted exploring the woodland behind Parliament Buildings. Moments like this help us celebrate and better understand the amazing wildlife that thrives right here\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/0shUqoVJKk<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Northern Ireland Assembly (@niassembly) March 2, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

According to Ulster Wildlife the small mammal is largely confined to the north of the UK, in Northern Ireland and Scotland. <\/p>\n

The pine marten is nocturnal and typically very hard to spot. Reintroductions are helping it make a comeback though, with them being present in all six counties. <\/p>\n

Following the data previously released regarding the resurgence of the small mammals, Ulster Wildlife said it is hoped the increase will boost the red squirrel numbers as pine martens predate the grey squirrels which are a threat to the native reds. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fantastic to see pine martens spreading and returning to areas where they haven\u2019t been seen for many years,\u201d added Ross McIlwrath, Priority Species Officer, with Ulster Wildlife.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis recovery will hopefully boost our much-loved red squirrel populations as we are seeing that in areas with a strong pine marten presence, greys are retracting. Red squirrels have adapted to live alongside these native predators, unlike their non-native counterparts.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, we cannot get complacent as red squirrels are still in trouble from grey squirrels and habitat destruction. Many red squirrels have disappeared from small areas of woodlands and urban areas and have become increasingly isolated and fragmented.\u201d<\/p>\n