Animals found in Ireland
Hedgehog (Gráinneog)
Badger (Broc)
The badger is a carnivore. It likes to eat worms, beetles, slugs, snails, rats, mice and young rabbits. It has an excellent sense of smell which is uses to find food. It is a mainly nocturnal animal so is rarely seen during the day. The badger's home is called a set. It has a series of tunnels and chambers underground.
The badger is a carnivore. It likes to eat worms, beetles, slugs, snails, rats, mice and young rabbits. It has an excellent sense of smell which is uses to find food. It is a mainly nocturnal animal so is rarely seen during the day. The badger's home is called a set. It has a series of tunnels and chambers underground.
Red Deer (Fia Rua)
Fallow Deer (Fia Buí)
Japanese Sika Deer (Fia Seapánach)
Feral Goat (Fiáin)
The Red Squirrel (Iora Rua)
The Grey Squirrel (Iora Glas)
Otter (Dobharchú)
Pine Marten (Cat Crainn)
The pine marten is generally found in woodlands but can also be found on rocky ground such as The Burren. Pine martens eat mainly rats and mice but sometimes they eat squirrels, small birds, berries, fish and beetles. They usually in holes under tree trunks or between rocks or boulders but sometimes they use a bird's nest or a squirel's drey.
The pine marten is generally found in woodlands but can also be found on rocky ground such as The Burren. Pine martens eat mainly rats and mice but sometimes they eat squirrels, small birds, berries, fish and beetles. They usually in holes under tree trunks or between rocks or boulders but sometimes they use a bird's nest or a squirel's drey.
Irish Stoat (Easóg)
The stoat is an indigenous animal. It is carnivorous. It likes to eat rats, mice, shrews, rabbits, birds' eggs, reptiles and fish. It uses its excellent sense of smell to find its prey. The stoat lives in mountainous areas, marshlands, agricultural land and woodland. They can swim and climb well. Stoats do not build nests but use any suitable hole they find such as a hollow trunk, rock crevice or burrow.
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Fox (Sionnach/Madra Rua)
Rabbit (Coinín)
Hare (Giorria)
Field Mouse (Luchóg Mhóinéir)
Pygmy Shrew (Dallóg Fhraoigh)
Bat (Ialtóg/Sciathán Leathar)
The most common places for bats to live are beside water in trees. They like to eat flying insects such as moths and dragon flies. They use echo-location to find their prey. They hibernate in the winter because there are very few insects to be found.
Kingfisher (Cruidín)
Kingfishers build nests in tunnels dug into river banks along streams and rivers. Kingfishers like to eat small fish and insects.
Kingfishers build nests in tunnels dug into river banks along streams and rivers. Kingfishers like to eat small fish and insects.
They catch these by plunge-diving or while hovering.
Cormorants & Shags (Broigheall & Seaga)
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Cormorants and shags are very difficult to tell apart. Both types of birds like to eat fish. They are excellent divers. They catch fish by diving from the surface of the water. They use their webbed feet and their wings to propel themselves through the water.
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Gannets (Gainéad)
Gannets are amazing birds. They hunt fish by diving into the sea from a height and chasing them. Their nostrils are on the inside of the mouths! Their are air sacs in their faces and chests which protect them when the hit the water. |
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Oyster Catcher (Roilleach)
Puffins (Puifín)
Heron (Corr Réisc)
Common Dolphins (Deilf Choiteann)
Common dolphins like to eat fish and sometimes squid. They are fast swimmers and can be seen breaching. Have a look at these pictures below to see some which where photographed around the Blasket Islands.
Bottlenose Dolphin (Deilf Bholgshrónach)
There are famous bottlenose dolphins in Ireland. Fungie in County Kerry is the most famous of them. The other dolphins are Dusky in County Clare, Duggie in Tory Island, Venus from the Blasket Islands and Dony who travels around the coast. http://irishdolphins.com/index.asp |
Click on the videos to see Fungie:
Seals (Rónta)
There are two types of seals in Ireland: the Atlantic Grey Seal and the Common Seal. The seals are in danger of getting caught in nets. When they are injured they are rehabilitated in shelters and set free when they have recovered. These seals were released in Sligo.
There are two types of seals in Ireland: the Atlantic Grey Seal and the Common Seal. The seals are in danger of getting caught in nets. When they are injured they are rehabilitated in shelters and set free when they have recovered. These seals were released in Sligo.
These are some photos of grey seals around the Blasket Islands.
Minke Whale (Droimeiteach Beag)
The minke whale is a type of baleen whale. It is a mammal so must come to the surface to breath. It has a blow hole on top of it's head through which it breaths. It is the second smallest of the baleen whale. Mike whales can live up to 60 years of age. Below are some photos of a minke whale that were taken off the Kerry coast.
Irish Wolfhound (Cú Faoil)
Connemara Pony (Capaillín Chonamara)
Red Setter (Sotar Rua)
The red setter is a lovely dog. Originally they were used for hunting. A red setter was used in the Bus Éireann commercial. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4jBHieT9WY
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Basking Shark