Toxic substance found in Tipperary badger sett

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff in Tipperary are appealing to the public for information after a substance toxic to badgers was found at the entrance to a known badger sett.

The incident took place last month in an area north of the village of Carrig in North Tipperary. The discovery was made by Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) personnel, who came across a number of apples at a badger sett entrance. Upon closer examination of the apples, they realised they contained an unidentified substance.

They immediately notified NPWS staff and the material was brought to the Regional Veterinary Lab in Athlone for analysis. The substance has now been identified by the State Laboratory but for operational reasons its identity is being withheld. However, it is a substance highly toxic to badgers and this incident is being treated as a premeditated attempt to poison a protected wild animal.

NPWS are appealing to anybody with information regarding this incident to come forward.

Badgers are protected under the Wildlife Acts (1976 as amended). It is an offence to wilfully interfere with the breeding or resting place of a badger. It is also an offence to injure or hunt a badger. Members of the public can contact NPWS confidentially at the NPWS Regional office 01-5393199 or email WildlifeEnforcement@npws.gov.ie.