Wildlife at Crom
The mature oak woodland, meadows, parkland and snaking waterways of Upper Lough Erne mean Crom is a haven for wildlife. The estate is home to a vast array of rare species like otters, red squirrels and pine martens as well as some of the UK's rarest butterflies and moths.
Crom is a hotspot for butterflies in Northern Ireland, who appreciate our flower-rich meadows and hedgerows. The woodland glades and mature oaks provide a home for rare species like the silver washed fritillary and the purple hairstreak.
Hundreds of species of moths have been recorded at Crom over the years from the big and beautiful elephant hawk-moth to the rare and elusive dark umber. The diversity of these special creatures means various moths can be spotted from March right through to October.
Although rare in large parts of England, pine martens are thriving at Crom and spotted regularly by staff and visitors alike. They are incredibly adaptable and eat almost anything from birds nests, to beetles, to berries. They are mostly nocturnal hunters but the long hours of daylight during summer mean they often venture out during the day.
The vast expanse of woodland at Crom is perfect for red squirrels. Habitat loss, coupled with the invasion of the non-native grey squirrel are the main driving factors behind the decline of the red squirrel. New evidence suggests that pine martens are on the increase and they seem to have a negative effect on the presence of the grey squirrel, meaning the red squirrel population has a chance to recover. Keep an eye out near any hazel trees from which they harvest the nuts to keep them going through the harsh winter months.
Otters regularly travel round the meandering waterways of the islands that make up Upper Lough Erne, searching for food and patroling their territories. It's often possible to spot their trails through the woodland or occasional fish-bones where they've stopped to feed.