Irish hares have a brown coat and black-tipped ears. They can jump up to 2 meters or 6.5 feet high and travel quickly--up to 30 mph. Hares that survive the first year of life have a life expectancy of approximately 9 years. Irish hares have a relatively stable population and are not considered endangered.
Although they are not a wild species, Ireland is well known for its horses. Several breeds of Irish horses exist. The Connemara and Kerry Bog ponies are the two pony breeds native to the island. Horse breeds include the Irish Cob and Irish Sport. Finally, the Irish Draught is the draft breed native to Ireland. Although not native to Ireland, thoroughbreds are very popular there as well.
Several bat species call Ireland home, including Leisler's bat, Natterer's bat and the whiskered bat. They are nocturnal animals, hibernate in winter and consume a diet of insects. Most bats in Ireland are considered to be of least concern by The Red List of Threatened Species; however, Leisler's bat is classified as near-threatened.
The otter lives near water. This includes both salt water on the coast and fresh water rivers and lakes. For the most part, otters are nocturnal, although they are sometimes active during the day. They eat a variety of fish, frogs and other small animals found in the water. The Red List classifies the otter as near-threatened.
The Irish stout is commonly referred to as a weasel and belongs to the same family as ferrets, otters and mink. Stoats measure approximately 1 foot long and possess short legs. They are carnivorous animals and hunt prey such as birds, rabbits, hares and rodents. Stoats are mainly nocturnal.
