Gardaí in Co. Limerick are appealing for witnesses in a suspected case of badger baiting, after finding holes dug into the ground at what are believed to have been badger sets.
Newcastle West Gardaí, as well as the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), were alerted to an incident contrary to the Wildlife Act 1976 at a rural location in the vicinity of Croagh village at around 4:00p.m yesterday (January 24).
Gardaí arrived at the scene and observed two large holes which had been intentionally dug into the ground.
It is understood that this was done as part of the practice of badger baiting, where badgers – a protected species in Ireland – are dug out of their sets and captured and used to fight dogs.
“This is a harmful and serious offence under the Wildlife Act,” Gardaí said.
They are appealing for anyone with any information regarding this incident to come forward.
In particular, Gardaí are looking to speak with anyone that was in the Croagh village area or the wider Adare and Rathkeale areas between 1:00p.m and 4:00p.m yesterday afternoon and who may have seen anything which resembled the incident in question, or anything which may have drawn their attention.
Any road users who may have video footage (including dash-cam) from this area at this time, are asked to make it available to Gardaí.
Anyone who may have any information is asked to to contact Newcastle West Garda Station, the Garda confidential line, or any Garda station.
The NPWS said on social media that the willful disturbing of a breeding or resting place, or resting site, of any protected mammal is an offence under the Wildlife Act.
At the end of last year, the NPWS said it had initiated 43 prosecutions in 2023 for offences under the Wildlife Act.
This is an increase on the 2022 figure, which was 30. The NPWS also said that 112 prosecutions were concluded from 2020 to the end of 2023.