Eye on Nature: Ethna Viney answers your queries

I regularly see the turtle in my photograph – I assume it's an escaped or discarded pet – on my walks in north Co Dublin. It seems to favour one particular spot on the river. Assuming it does not find a mate, can it cause any damage to other wildlife?
Martin Taylor
Baldoyle, Co Dublin

It is a terrapin – escaped or discarded, as you suggest. They can live for 30 years, and feed on small fish, frogs and baby birds. One is unlikely to do much damage to other wildlife, as the climate here is not warm enough yet for breeding.

I saw a mink take a mallard with a crocodile roll upstream of the bridge in Carrick-on-Shannon. When will a serious cull happen before our waterfowl are wiped out?
Kevin Toolan
Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim

Minister for Heritage Heather Humphreys, who is responsible, says she has no plans for a national cull.

I watched a young pine marten chase a red squirrel up a beech tree in our woodland. The squirrel ran out along a twig, jumped to the next tree and got away. The pine marten stopped at a two-inch fork and stayed awhile.
Sandy Perceval
Ballymote, Co Sligo

On November 1st we were amazed to see two types of dragonfly in the garden. There are a lot of small insects and hoverflies about, too, and the bees are busy in and out of the hives.
Helen Pinoff
Rossinver, Co Leitrim

Ethna Viney welcomes queries and observations at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address