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Bogs are home to the largest animal in Ireland - the Red Deer. Red Deer wallow in peat baths to rid themselves of flies and parasites. Bog pools are rich in insects and mini-beasts. Raft spiders hide among the sedges at the edge of bog pools, waiting to catch an insect landing on the water surface. Dragonflies set up their hunting territories around the bog pools.

In Summer, many insects are on the wing and they provide a food source for breeding birds and frogs.

Look out for the hairy caterpillars of the oak eggar moth and fox moth. They overwinter in the lichen cushions where they can be sure of a dry bed. One rare butterfly - the Large Heath is sometimes seen feeding on the flowers of cross-leaved heath.

Catch a sun bathing lizard on the bog.

Hippy, hoppy, slimy frog,
Jumpy, frumpy in the bog.