This selection of Irish animals, native or introduced, is taken from the Appletree Press title Animals of Ireland. There will be a number of extracts from the book in coming months. The book contains highly detailed full colour illustrations to complement the detailed explanatory text.

Grey Seal
Halichoerus grypus
Rón glas

Also known as the Atlantic seal, its range corresponds roughly with the north-western seaboard of the Atlantic. In Ireland it ranges along all the coasts but its main habitats and breeding areas lie on the western, northern and parts of the southern coasts. It is much more local on the east coast where it is largely replaced by the Common seal. Grey seals are in general 'commoner' than Common seals, preferring rocky, wavepounded coasts to the calmer inshore waters favoured by the latter animal.

Breeding occurs on rocky islets and uninhabited islands in the autumn, a year after the bulls have established territories and mated with the cows. A single pup is born to the cow, and this is nurtured throughout the winter by the female. For the first month the pup remains on the land only. Grey seal pups are among the most attractive of all young animals, with their beautiful silky white fur, large appealing eyes and general attitude of helplessness.

The bull Grey seal is generally dark grey above, paler beneath and irregularly blotched with black. Colour and pattern varies though, and they may look very dark all over in certain circumstances. The cows are generally paler, particularly underneath. Bulls are massive, up to 3 metres (9 feet) or more in length and weighing 227 kg (500 lb). The cows are a couple of feet shorter and only half the weight. A wide variety of marine food is eaten, ranging from crustaceans like crabs and lobsters to shellfish and squid. Fish of many species are eaten as they are caught including, in season, salmon.

Conflict between fishermen and seals is not new but it has been intensifying in recent years. Large numbers of Grey seals from the northern and western colonies in both Ireland and Scotland have been held responsible for significantly reducing fish stocks and damaging nets. This has resulted in legal and illegal 'culling' to try to control numbers. Conservationists (and others) hold that overfishing in conjunction with improved technology are the main culprits, not the seals.

Whatever the case, Ireland has a special responsibility towards the continuing existence of Grey seal colonies in view of the fact that half the European population of the species is found here.

Another Aquatic Mammal (pinniped) from Animals of Ireland include:
Common Seal