Residents and local officials have raised serious concerns about the environmental and recreational impact of quad bike riders in Lisnagra Woods near Muff, County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. The vehicles have been operating throughout the summer months, causing extensive damage to the forest floor and disrupting habitats for protected wildlife, particularly a colony of red squirrels preparing for winter.
Margaret Peoples, a resident of Carnamoyle, has been documenting the damage caused by the heavy off-road vehicles. She described the woodland as increasingly difficult for families and dog walkers to navigate due to the churned-up terrain and mud left behind by the quad bikes.
What damage are the quad bikes causing?
The vehicles are cutting deep into the forest floor and destroying undergrowth that provides essential habitat for small mammals and birds. Peoples explained that the destruction of ground vegetation and seeds directly threatens the survival of woodland ecosystems and the food chains that depend on them.
"These quads have been cutting the place up every weekend. It's been happening all summer, and it's making the place nearly unusable for people coming with their kids, or for a walk with the dog or whatever, because it's very badly cut up and mucky at the minute. Plus, it's also doing a lot of damage to the forest floor, which is bad for the survival of the woods, for the food chain in the woods, for the seeds and the birds. It's not the place for quads. It really isn't."
According to a local follow-up report from 26 August 2026, the problem has persisted with newly planted areas of woodland becoming severely churned up and difficult to walk through, compounding concerns about long-term forest recovery.
Why are red squirrels particularly at risk?
The noise and habitat destruction pose a direct threat to the red squirrel colony during a critical time of year. Peoples stressed that the animals require peace and quiet to gather and store food ahead of winter, and the disturbance from the quad bikes undermines their survival prospects.
"The damage that they're doing to the forest floor and the undergrowth, where the small mammals – your squirrels, your rabbits, your pine martens – are at this time of year gathering up for the winter, they're wrecking that. And the noise disturbance is clearly going to be an issue for any bird life. Even now, there's not as much birdsong in the morning or afternoon as there would have been before all this started."
Peoples emphasised that humans are visitors to the woodland and must respect the animals that live there permanently.
"We have a colony of red squirrels here who are having to deal with all this disturbance, you know, these things need peace and quiet to thrive. It's their home. We're only visitors there, and we need to respect that if they're going to survive and thrive."
What safety concerns exist for the public?
Beyond environmental damage, the high-speed operation of quad bikes in the woodland poses potential dangers to families and other recreational users. Sinn Féin councillor Terry Crossan raised the issue of public safety alongside habitat destruction.
What action has been taken?
Councillor Crossan has escalated the matter to both Coillte Ireland, the forestry company responsible for managing 440,000 hectares of primarily forested land across the Republic of Ireland, and An Garda Síochána, the Irish police service. He described the situation as severe and ongoing.
"This has been going on for quite some time and is happening on a regular basis. This activity in the Lisnagra area is causing severe loss of habitat and is having a detrimental impact on wildlife, especially the red squirrels and pine martens. Any noise pollution or damage to habitat or vegetation all has a very serious impact, with a lot of areas in the wood being turned into an absolute quagmire. I have contacted Coillte and Gardaí over these repeated incidents of quad bikes being ridden in the woodland, and hopefully we will see some action in the immediate future."
According to Coillte's official policy, off-road vehicles are not permitted in its forests and are explicitly banned under its bye-laws. This means the quad bike activity in Lisnagra Woods is operating in violation of the forestry company's regulations.
Why does this matter for woodland recreation?
Lisnagra Woods is part of a broader network of forest amenities that Coillte maintains for public use. Coillte operates 260 recreation sites, 12 forest parks and more than 3,000 kilometres of marked walking trails across its managed lands. Damage to these spaces undermines their value for families, walkers and wildlife enthusiasts who depend on them for outdoor recreation and nature connection.
What happens next?
Councillor Crossan has expressed hope that enforcement action will follow his complaints to Coillte and the gardaí. Peoples has urged quad bike riders to relocate their activities to areas designated for off-road vehicle use rather than continuing to damage protected woodland. The outcome of the complaints and any enforcement response remains to be seen, though Coillte's guidance indicates that visitors should look for signage where forestry work is underway and use alternate routes where provided, suggesting any management response would be communicated through on-site notices.
Key Facts
- Quad bikes have been operating in Lisnagra Woods throughout the summer, causing damage to the forest floor and undergrowth
- The activity threatens a red squirrel colony and other small mammals during their critical pre-winter foraging period
- Off-road vehicles are banned under Coillte Ireland's bye-laws and are not permitted in its forests
- Local councillor Terry Crossan has reported the issue to both Coillte Ireland and An Garda Síochána
- Newly planted woodland areas have been severely churned up, making them difficult to traverse
