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.

Pine Marten
Martes martes
Cat crainn

This, arguably the most beautiful of Ireland's wild animals, is a relation of the Stoat, but, as the Irish name suggests, looks more like a Cat. Usually only a fleeting glimpse is to be had of this shy creature for it is rarely seen in daylight. Like most carnivores the Pine marten is nocturnal and hunts a wide variety of small mammals and birds and even insects. The diet is supplemented with berries, fruits and birds' eggs, in season.

The name Pine marten is suggestive of its traditional habitat in conifer trees, and although it still occupies this habitat in the Scottish Highlands it has had to adapt to alternatives in Ireland. It is found here in the recent conifer plantations and in some semi-natural deciduous woods. In the west of the country (where it is well established) it has adapted to life on the open limestone and hazel scrub, notably in the Burren area.

The adult male is over 60 cm (2 feet) long, about a third of which is tail. The smaller female is only about two-thirds of the weight of the male. Both are richly clad in soft fur, which though generally dark brown can vary considerably in colour. In spring it is warm brown while after the winter moult it can look dark chocolate or nearly black. The large paws (with prominent claws) are blackish as is the facial fur. Bright beady eyes and black shiny nose stand out in the face which is more foxy looking than that of the Stoat or the Mink. The ears are large, parabolic in shape and creamy edged. There is a large creamy yellow patch on the chin and throat which can look almost orange in some animals.

Pine martens make their nests in undisturbed places such as a hollow tree, a hole in a dry rocky place or the abandoned nest of a large bird or a squirrel. The nest is lined with dry grass for comfort. Normally two litters of four or five young are reared each summer. The young stay with the adults until the autumn when they leave to establish their own territories.

Despite the fact that their skins were exported in quantity in the Middle Ages (the fur being especially high quality) and that its woodland habitat was more or less completely removed in the 17th and 18th centuries, the Pine marten has survived and is once again on the increase. It is more widespread and common than the rare daylight sightings would suggest.

Other Medium Mammals from Animals of Ireland include:
Badger |
Fox |
Irish Hare |
Irish Stoat |
Mink |
Otter |
Rabbit