The first sighting of a red squirrel kit in a Co Down forest has been hailed as a “big step in the road” towards a permanent population in the area after a re-introduction project began three years ago.
The native red squirrel was first reintroduced to the woodland at Castle Ward in January 2023 as part of a project between the voluntary Heart of Down Red Squirrel Group (HODRSG), the National Trust, Ulster Wildlife and Belfast Zoo.
However, while the animals successfully set up home in the forest, they did not produce any young.
Read more: Red squirrels introduced at Co Down National Trust property
Reintroduction work has continued in the years since, with two males and two females of breeding age released in the forest in 2025.
A lactating female was spotted at a feeder on April 9 PICTURE: HEART OF DOWN RED SQUIRREL GROUP
Hopes of success were tentatively raised last month after what appeared to be a pregnant female red squirrel was spotted at a feeding point.
Now, it has been confirmed to have been successful after a young kit was captured on camera on April 29 and again on May 1.
Stephen Martin from HODRSG said that it was “fantastic” to see the young animal.
“We had a previous introduction, which was unsuccessful,” he said.
“The squirrels were there for the guts of three years, but there was no young.
Heart of Down Red Squirrel Group was set up to reintroduce and conserve the red squirrel population around Ballynahinch and throughout Co Down PICTURE: HEART OF DOWN RED SQUIRREL GROUP
“[This time] there was two breeding pairs, so we were very hopeful.
“It’s a big event, it’s a big step in the road – but young squirrels, they have to survive predator pressure.”
Among those threats include the native pine martin, as well as the risk of a grey squirrel venturing into the woodland.
Mr Martin said that the forest was identified as a reintroduction spot as it was not home to any of the invasive grey species.
“We had a meeting a few years ago with the ranger in Castle Ward; there’s about 250 acres of woodland there, it’s got great potential,” he said.
Projects are being carried out across the north to protect the native red squirrel population PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
“From chatting to him, we realised that there hadn’t been a grey squirrel in Castle Ward for maybe, well, now 25 years and counting, which is an amazing thing.
“Just to be sure, we stuck up feeders around Castle Ward with associated cameras for a number of weeks and we realised, this is looking very good.”
He said that one of the reasons they believe greys have not established themselves in the forest is because of the number of pine martins.
“It’s just keeping them out because a grey squirrel is catastrophic for a wee red squirrel population like that,” he said.
Mr Martin added that the aim was now to get a population of reds “up and running” and thanked his fellow volunteers, including Ruth Maxwell and group founder Wilson Johnston, as well as the National Trust for their help.
“Castle Ward’s a fantastic habitat for them, and they should be there,” he said.
“They are our native red squirrel, that’s what they should be, so it would be a fantastic thing to be able to achieve.”
He added that the sighting of the kit was “too well developed” to have been the offspring of the pregnant female squirrel seen in early April.
“Hopefully there’s the chance we might have another successful litter.”