Fauna

There are many different animals in The Burren. Here  we mention some of the most commonly seen animals in The Burren.

PINE MARTENS

There are many types of pine martins throughout The Burren. They are sometimes found in daylight but they normally hunt at night,because they can be very shy creatures. Farmers call the Pine Martin “marten cat” because they are the main predator to young lambs just like the fox.

BUTTERFLIES

There are about 30 different species of butterflies in The Burren. Some of the names are holly blue,silver-washed and small tortoiseshell. They have a life span of up to 4 years and feed off the pollen of flowers. Their main predator is the bird.

MOTHS

There are about 18 different species of moths in the Burren. One of the most famous moths in the Burren is the Burren Green because it can only found in the Burren. Another moth found in the Burren is the Burnet Moth. Moths are very delicate and the Burren Green is very rare.

COWS

Cows have been in The Burren for centuries now.The main breed of the cows in the Burren are Shorthorn.Now many other varities are found in the Burren such as Fresians,Limousines and Charlaois. In the winter when cows are let out onto the mountains to eat the grass. It is called “winterage”.If they didn't do this the cows would eat all the flowers and kill most of its insects that are to be found here.

FERAL GOATS

Feral goats are very common in The Burren with an estimated number of around 1,000 goats. Goats were once farmed in The Burren but were let free giving them their name 'feral goats'. They like to eat grass and bushes and can sometimes be a nuisance to the farmers eating the grass on the lowlands.  Goats like to live in mountains, rocky areas and fields but in bad weather they take shelter in woodlands,making the Burren a great place for goats to live.

BIRDS

 

Over 100 different types of birds can be found in the Burren amounting to over 70% of the national total. The most common birds to be found in the Burren include wrens, robins, blackbirds, yellowhammers, skylarks and peregrine falcons. The Burren is also a very good place to hear the cuckoo.

OTHER ANIMALS

Other smaller animals found in the Burren include lizards, bats, dragonflies, grasshoppers, hares, hedgehogs, snails, red squirrels, frogs, slow worms, 

badgers, foxes and many more.