MEMBERS OF THE public are being asked for their views on the future of grey squirrels in Dublin and Wicklow as local authorities examine options for managing the invasive species across the region.

A new feasibility study, commissioned by the four Dublin councils, Wicklow County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), will assess whether grey squirrels can be controlled or potentially eradicated from the wider Dublin-Wicklow area.

Grey squirrels, which were introduced to Ireland from North America in the early 20th century, are classified as an invasive species and are blamed for the decline of the native red squirrel.

They’re now mainly found in urban and suburban areas, like parks in Dublin, where pine martens are rare (pine martens hunt squirrels, though they have assisted with the repopulation of native red squirrel). They’re also found along the eastern and northern coastlines.

The study will examine a range of possible management approaches and assess their environmental, social, legal and financial implications.

As part of the process, a public consultation has been launched through the National Biodiversity Data Centre and will remain open until 28 June.

Dr Emma Sheehy, who is leading the study, urged people to take part.

“We are encouraging anyone in the Dublin and Wicklow area who has an interest in the topic to take part in our online survey,” Sheehy said.

“It should only take five minutes of your time and will be fundamental in helping us to understand how people feel about red squirrels, grey squirrels and, in particular, how people feel about grey squirrel control.”

According to information published alongside the consultation, the project will consider all management options, including the possibility of eradicating grey squirrels from the region.

If such an approach was deemed feasible, grey squirrels across Dublin and Wicklow would be captured using cage traps and humanely euthanised, or “dispatched”.

Officials said that there is “currently no alternative” to killing grey squirrels in urban and semi-urban environments due to pine martens avoiding built-up regions.

Biodiversity Ireland said that grey squirrels compete with native red squirrels for food and habitat, and can also carry squirrel pox virus, which is harmless to grey squirrels but often fatal to reds.

The organisation added that the species has also caused damage to native woodlands and commercial forestry through bark stripping.

The study comes after EU regulations on invasive species were transposed into Irish law in 2024, creating an obligation to manage certain invasive species and eradicate them where feasible.

While grey squirrel numbers have declined in some parts of Ireland due to the recovery of pine martens, authorities say the species remains well established throughout much of Dublin and Wicklow.

The findings of the study will help determine whether a large-scale management programme could be pursued in the future.

Details on the survey can be found here.