Putting deer on contraceptives among proposals received for wildlife legislation review
Darragh Mc Donagh
The reintroduction of wolves, a national bounty for hunting feral cats, and giving contraceptives to deer were among hundreds of proposals received by the Government following a public consultation on wildlife legislation.
An ecologist also complained that social media influencers were disturbing nesting birds by using drones in conservation areas, as well as “stressing out” puffins by walking on their burrows.
“We’re in a biodiversity crisis and folks like these are shown to disrupt breeding species. We need more modern legislation for these modern problems,” they wrote, providing examples on TikTok and Instagram.
One individual called on the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to “stop being silly stick in the muds” and introduce the beaver to Ireland’s natural habitats. “Those obstructing this need to be given one hell of a good kick up the backside.”
Many of the submissions called for foxhunting, hare coursing and snaring badgers to be banned, while others argued for these activities to be protected in any forthcoming legislation.
There were calls for electronic fox callers, night-vision rifle sights, and semi-automatic rifles to be permitted in order to facilitate the “humane dispatch of vermin”. One correspondent also endorsed the use of bows and arrows to hunt deer.
One submission expressing support for the continuation of hare coursing also called for a national bounty for the control of mink, foxes and feral cats. However, they endorsed a ban on the killing of salmon and sea trout by anglers.
Several submissions called for a ban on harecoursing, describing it as an “indefensible practice”. “Hares feel pain like us and have a right to live their lives as nature intended. They are not here for morons to entertain themselves,” one person wrote.
Another individual called for foxhunting to be banned, and claimed to have witnessed “toffeenose prats” laughing as a fox was “ripped apart by hounds” after trying to rescue its cub.
One submission complained that the current system for applying for licences to shoot seals was “too cumbersome”, and several called for the removal of restrictions on the hunting of sika deer.
The Irish Air Corps and Cork Airport made similar submissions, calling for new legislation to allow for disturbing, displacing or killing wildlife where there is an immediate threat to air safety.
“Swans could be caught up and transported outside of the airport to a suitable location. If capture was not possible, then lethal methods may have to be used to clear the way for safe air operation to continue,” they wrote.
One submission called for the reintroduction of wolves in Ireland, arguing that this would have positive effects on tree growth and biodiversity. They said similar projects had been successful in the US and in the Alps.
There was a call for “bait laced with contraceptives” to be used as an alternative to culling deer in response to over-population, and for badgers to be vaccinated against TB.
The submissions, which were published by the NPWS this week, will be used to inform and shape the development of Ireland’s wildlife legislation, which is currently under review.
