Mammals
Carnfunnock Country Park is home to a variety of mammals. Some are nocturnal and the best time to see them is at dawn or dusk like the badger, fox, hedgehog, wood mouse and Pipistrelle bats, although hedgehogs and bats will normally hibernate during the winter.
Others may be seen all year round, more often by day like, Irish stoats, pygmy shrew, wild rabbits or squirrels although you are more likely to see the American grey squirrel than our native red.
As these mammals are all sensitive to disturbance, signs of activity are more often seen than the animals themselves. You will need to use all your senses to find clues such as pawprints, hair on fences, claw marks on trees, droppings, remains of meals, used bedding materials, sounds and even strange smells, which are used as territory markers.
Please remember that all the mammals in Carnfunnock Country Park are protected and should not be disturbed. No shooting is permitted anywhere within the Park and if you see poachers or anyone acting suspiciously take their car number, do not disturb them and call the police (dial 999).
