Irish Mammals

1. Irish Mammals Irish name: Iora Rua The red squirrel is smaller than the grey squirrel. In winter its coat is thick and red, and it has a bushy tail and long ear tufts. The underside is cream or white. In summer, the coat becomes lighter in colour and the ear tufts are small and pale. The Squirrel Other Facts

2. Irish Mammals The Fox Irish name: Sionnach / Madra rua The fox is about the same size as a large domestic cat, and is common throughout Ireland, in woodland, farmland, bog, mountains, coastal areas, towns and cities.  It has adapted well to urban living.  It is nocturnal, and is a very agile animal that can jump and climb well. Other Facts

3. Irish Mammals Hedgehog Irish name: Gráinneog The adult hedgehog is about 25cm long and has over 5,000 hard spines, which are specially modified hairs, used for protection. It has coarse hair on its face and belly. Hedgehogs can run and swim well. They have good senses of smell and hearing, though their eyesight is poor. Other Facts

4. Irish Mammals • Badger Irish name: Broc Badgers live in small family groups in an underground system of tunnels and chambers called a 'sett'. The badger is a robust animal with very strong claws, which help it to dig. It does not have good eyesight but can see much better after dark than humans can, since it is a nocturnal animal. Other Facts

5. Irish Mammals Lesser Horseshoe Bat Irish name: Ialóg crúshrónach / Crú-ialtóg beag The lesser horseshoe bat got its name because of the horseshoe-shaped face leaf on its nose, which helps to detect the sounds used in echolocation. It is a tiny bat that hangs upside-down, with its wings wrapped around its body. Its ears do not contain a 'tragus', the lobe found in the ears of other bats to help in echolocation. Other Facts

6. Irish Mammals Red Deer Irish name: Fia rua The red deer is the largest of Ireland's wild deer. Red deer populations are now found in counties Tyrone, Down, Fermanagh, Donegal, Wicklow, Kerry and Meath. The Wicklow population have interbred with introduced sika deer to produce hybrids. Other Facts

7. Irish Mammals Pine Marten Irish name: Cat crainn The Irish name for the pine marten means 'tree cat', a name richly deserved by this agile mustelid that spends much of its time in the treetops.  An animal of coniferous forests, it has adapted to other habitats in Ireland. Strong populations are found in the Burren, in Killarney National Park, the Slieve Bloom Mountains, and in parts of Meath and Waterford. Once common throughout the country, hunting led to its decline.  Today, it is again beginning to spread into Kildare, Laois, Wicklow, Dublin, Carlow, Fermanagh, Antrim, Tyrone and Down.  The pine marten is found in all Irish woodland types, and has adapted to pasture, moors and coastal areas. Other Facts