Species:

Species Introduction
Marine Mammals
Other Mammals
Birds
Waders
Ducks, Geese and Swans
Birds of Prey
Other Birds
Fish
Reptiles
Amphibians
Crustaceans
Insects
Molluscs
Echinoderms
Vascular Plants
Lichens
Seaweed
Fungi

Bats

Nine of the ten species of bats in Ireland are found breeding in County Clare. County Clare holds internationally important populations of Lesser horseshoe, Daubenton's and Leisler's bats.

Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus
Brown long-eared bat is quite a common bat in Clare, with distinctive long ears. Brown long-eared bat can be seen around old churches, mainly of catholic church type design.
Habitat: Woodland for feeding and attics in buildings for roosting.
What could or does threaten the population: Chemicals including chlorinated hydrocarbons such as pentachlorophenol used in wood treatments. Loss of habitat such as woodland, cats and disturbance from humans in occupied buildings.

Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros Lesser horseshoe bats are common in Clare, due to the presence of caves and large houses with suitable attics. These are internationally important populations as they are declining in most of the rest of Europe. Lesser horseshoe bats occur in many locations in Clare particularly in the North and East of the county. The Lesser horseshoe bats are bats of the aristocracy, found in big houses on old estates.

This is because they prefer large attics with open space through which they can freely fly. Habitat: Roost and hibernate in caves and under old bridges and breed in buildings. Feed along hedgerows. What could or does threaten the population: Organochlorine pesticides, disturbance of roosts and agricultural intensification including the removal of hedgerows. The blocking or obstruction of roosts threatens Lesser horseshoe populations.