A furry friend who took up residence in a Roscommon school attic!
The female pine marten was safely relocated.
The pupils and staff at Taughmaconnell NS were delighted recently to find a new addition to the school community – a female pine marten.
The pine martin had taken up residence in the South Roscommon school’s attic, and was a huge source of excitement.
Deputy principal Nicola Cassells told the Herald that once the pine marten’s presence was discovered, they contacted Roscommon Conservation Ranger, Ethan Devaney.
“He set up some cameras and traps. She was evading them for quite a while, a week and a half. She was very clever,” the teacher said. “But she was eventually caught.”
She added that once they knew about their visitor, the school took the opportunity to learn all about this rare, native mammal.
“There was huge excitement, and the children wanted to see her as she was being collected,” Ms Cassells said. “Pine martens are small, and more numerous in Connacht than anywhere else in the country. They are solitary animals. We have never had one here before.”
The pine marten, who was searching for a location for her litter, has now been safely relocated far from the school, and the school thanked Ethan for his help.
