2006-11-26 04:11:51 · 29 answers · asked by danielaveronica 1 in Travel ➔ Ireland ➔ Other - Ireland
The most recent ice age began about three million years ago and continues into the present. Between warm periods like the current climate, glaciers have advanced and retreated more than 20 times, often completely blanketing Ireland with ice. Snakes, being cold-blooded animals, simply aren't able to survive in areas where the ground is frozen year round. Ireland thawed out for the last time only 15,000 years ago. Since then, 12 miles of icy-cold water in the Northern Channel have separated Ireland from neighboring Scotland, which does harbor a few species of snakes. There are no snakes in Ireland for the simple reason that they can't get there.
2006-11-26 04:15:10 · answer #1 · answered by epbr123 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legend has it that St. Patrick drove all the snakes from Ireland. Sometime back in the fifth century he stood on a hill, the story goes, and used a staff to herd the slithering creatures into the sea, banishing them for eternity. It's true, aside from zoos and pets, there are no snakes on the emerald isle. In fact, there never were any snakes in Ireland. This state of affairs probably has more to do with the vagaries of geography than any neat tricks performed by St. Patty.
Snakes, being cold-blooded animals, simply aren't able to survive in areas where the ground is frozen year round. Ireland thawed out for the last time only 15,000 years ago. Since then, 12 miles of icy-cold water in the Northern Channel have separated Ireland from neighboring Scotland, which does harbor a few species of snakes. There are no snakes in Ireland for the simple reason that they can't get there.
as for rabbits there s loads
2006-11-28 22:06:49 · answer #2 · answered by purple diamond 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are no snakes here but theres loads of rabbits. Rabbits aren't native to Ireland though, they were brought here by the Vikings or something. The Irish word for rabbit, coinin, is the same as the Danish word for rabbit I think.
2006-11-30 03:01:48 · answer #3 · answered by Snarphman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are probably more rabbits here than people!! And we all breed like them! As for snakes? St. Patrick drove them out of the country and across the water where they all joined the British army. One even went on to become the first female snake prime minister of England!
2006-11-30 00:06:24 · answer #4 · answered by oif1983 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No there are in fact many rabbits in Ireland, and few varieties of small snakes, all of which are pretty harmless. There is a well known stigma in Ireland regarding rabbits as they are thought to be unlucky, however this is a myth depending on your own views
2006-11-26 04:16:08 · answer #5 · answered by jas 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i live in ireland and there are rabbits EVERYWHERE
because there LOADS of countryside
but hardly any snakes only little ones that are harmless and not very many at all
thanks for taking an interest in ireland =)
2006-11-26 09:09:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No snakes here but loads of rabbits
2006-11-26 08:43:33 · answer #7 · answered by Belmar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are lots of little rabbits hopping around, but no snakes - only pet ones, cos St Patrick chased them away all those years ago..
2006-11-28 02:01:30 · answer #8 · answered by Laura Lou 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are no snakes as the story goes that St. Patrick drove them out!
There are plenty of rabbits, although the myxomatosis nearly took them all in the 80s.
2006-11-27 05:59:12 · answer #9 · answered by Smokeabella 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No snakes but lots of rabbits.
2006-11-26 07:54:41 · answer #10 · answered by Trish D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋