Irish Mammals

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Irish Mammals

• The Squirrel

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.
Other Facts
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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
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Irish Mammals

• Hedgehog

Irish name GrÃinneog
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
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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
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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
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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
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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