Species:

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

Other Mammals

Pine marten Martes martes Clare and the Burren in particular has a significant population of pine martens. They are rare in Ireland, however they are beginning to increase in numbers again in some areas. The Pine marten is quite shy and therefore not seen very often. The Burren is the best location to try and find one, although they are now common throughout the county. Habitat: Woodland and scrub. They often have their young in old ruins.

What could or does threaten the population: Poisoning and persecution.

Irish stoat Mustela erminea
The stoat is common in County Clare. Stoats are quite nervous but curious, which means they can often be seen. They are found in most parts of Clare.
Habitat: Various habitats such as woodland, farmland, mountain and even along the shore. The Stoat tends to avoid open spaces.
What could or does threaten the population: Loss of habitat and road kills.

Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus
Hedgehogs are common in most of Ireland and Clare, however they maybe absent from parts of North Clare.
Habitat: Woodland, gardens.
What could or does threaten the population: Road kills, pesticides, poisoned due to eating slugs that have eaten slug pellets and getting trapped in cattle grids and garden ponds.

Irish hare Lepus timidus hibernicus A sub species of the Mountain hare. The Irish hare is quite common in Clare and is mainly found in coastal and upland areas. Habitat: A wide variety of open habitats from coastal grassland to upland. What could or does threaten the population: Intensive farming causing a decline in herbs in grasslands and hunting.

Otter Lutra lutra Otters are common in rivers and estuaries in Clare due to the good water quality. Ireland holds the densest population of Otters in Europe as they are declining in the rest of Europe. Otters can be found in most rivers, lakes, estuaries and rocky coasts in Clare. Habitat: Aquatic habitats such as rivers, lakes and estuaries. What could or does threaten the population: Pollution of water, drainage causing alteration of banks and removal of bank-side vegetation, road kill, development, disturbance and fish traps.

Red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris The Red squirrel is common in some parts of Clare. It is declining in many other parts of Ireland due to competition with Grey squirrels, but there are no Greys in Clare. Red squirrels can be found in many woodlands in Clare except near the coast in the west. Habitat: Woodlands particularly coniferous and parks. What could or does threaten the population: Loss of woodlands and reduced food sources in poor seasons.