Green Schools: Biodiversity: Wild Irish Land Mammals

Irish Mammals

The Red deer is the largest Irish land mammal.

Red Deer
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Fallow deer were introduced by the Normans.

Fallow Deer
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Japanese Sika deer were introduced to

Powercourt Estate, in County Wicklow, in the 19th century.

Sika Stag - Arne
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The Irish for Pine marten is ‘Cait Crann’.

This means ‘Tree Cat’.

 

Marten
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This is an Otter

Oriental Short-Clawed Otter 2
Photo Credit: Stuart Richards via Compfight

The American mink was introduced to Ireland in the 1940s.

It was to be farmed for its fur.

Escapees from the early 1960s onwards

resulted in wild mink.

Mink 06-13-11
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A Badger is a nocturnal animal.

Badger
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This is an Irish stoat.

'Sybil'
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A Red Fox is a carnivore.

Red Fox
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A Rabbit is a herbivore.

Rabbit on its haunches
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Can you see how an Irish hare is different

from a rabbit?

 

Hare
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The Pygmy shrew and the Pipistrelle bat

are the smallest Irish mammals.

Pygmy Shrew
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Did you know that Hedgehogs are excellent climbers?

Hedgehog!
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Here is the Grey squirrel. Approximately five pairs were brought to Ireland in 1911. They were given as a wedding present. They escaped and went to live in the wild.

Nut Face
Photo Credit: Ian Sane via Compfight

Here is a Red squirrel. 

whisky frisky
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The Bank vole came to Ireland from Germany,

in soil from earth moving equipment that was

used to build a dam at Ardnacrusha in 1925.

Bank vole
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There are many kinds of bats in Ireland.

This is the smallest: the Pipistrelle.

Pipsqueak
Photo Credit: Bill Tyne via Compfight

Other wild Irish mammals include, the House Mouse, the Wood Mouse, the Brown Rat and the Feral Goat. You can find out more about them on this link to Wicklow Mountains National Park.ie

2 thoughts on “Green Schools: Biodiversity: Wild Irish Land Mammals

  1. Dear Miss Tyler-Smith and Class,

    Thank you for your kind words. We are glad that you liked our post. Our Irish mammals are on a small scale compared to The Big Five. They are also perhaps safer. We are honoured that our post inspired you to write your post.

    We were fortunate to have a student teacher from Zimbabwe a number of years ago, who taught many of us about The Big Five.

    You may be jealous of our cute native mammals but we are envious of your magnificent and dramatic ones.

    With every good wish,

    Merry Beau and Students.

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