Irish Animals

I've been anxiously awaiting posting this. Why you ask? Well, I love animals and well, that's all.

Only 31 mammal species are native to Ireland, because it was isolated from Europe by rising sea levels after the Ice Age. Sad to say, the Grey Wolf, Canis lupus lupus - was hunted to extinction around 1773. That would have been the only large mammal predator on the island. It is easy to forget that Ireland is an island and has all manner of sea life and sea birds. The puffin migrates to the west coast and there is a bottlenose dolphin by the name of Fungie who has stayed near Dingle Peninsula and my understanding is, he is the longest standing, friendly, solitary dolphin in the world. You can read about it here. It is very interesting that the dolphin sometimes ranges along the cliffs to the west, as far as the Crow Rock, and out into Dingle Bay a short way, but is never observed more than 2km from the mouth of the harbour.

Dingle, April 1990

Fungie with a salmon, Sladin, Dingle

Truly an interesting website that I could spend countless hours reading and perusing. I don't know anyone who doesn't dream of swimming with dolphins...unless they don't like to put their face in the water, that is. Other sea life include the Minke whale and the common and gray seals.
Let's dispense with snakes now, shall we? There are no snakes on Ireland. And to the experts best "expert guess"....there never were any after the last ice age. So, that myth related to Bishop Patrick aka St. Patrick, is laid to rest. I have a fondness for otters and there is a freshwater otter in Ireland along with other members of the weasel family such as stoats and pine martens.

Aren't they too cute for words? There is also the Irish hare, the badger and red deer and very interestingly enough...there was an Irish Elk that became extinct about 5,700 BC but was actually just a giant deer. You can read about it here and look at the cool skeleton pic. There are many introduced species now as well, not including domesticated animals, my favorite is the Irish Donkey. Not that this is a special species or anything...just how the Irish feel about their donkey's.

Of course, there are sheep and cows aplenty. Geese and dogs and cats, as well as migratory birds but we don't have all day here now do we? So, off with you. Only a few more days left of posting. I hope to wrap it up on the 31st with a video of meself.

Slán go fóill

♥Pam