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Badger in Wicklow Mts.

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  • 19-06-2010 10:13pm
    #1
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,444 ✭✭✭✭


    I've just come back from a walk up in the Wicklow Mts. and when we were coming along the path that leads from the end of the Lugduffs to the top of the Spink, I was rather taken aback to see a badger run across the path in front of me. It was in broad daylight, about 5pm, and on a path that's frequented by lots of tourists. I've seen plenty of badger setts up in the hills, but this is the first time I've seen a badger in broad daylight up there. Saw 2 hares as well so quite a good day, wildlife spotting wise.
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    #2
    Amtmann
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,093 ✭✭✭Amtmann


    Alun wrote: »
    I've just come back from a walk up in the Wicklow Mts. and when we were coming along the path that leads from the end of the Lugduffs to the top of the Spink, I was rather taken aback to see a badger run across the path in front of me. It was in broad daylight, about 5pm, and on a path that's frequented by lots of tourists. I've seen plenty of badger setts up in the hills, but this is the first time I've seen a badger in broad daylight up there. Saw 2 hares as well so quite a good day, wildlife spotting wise.

    Badgers are usually strictly nocturnal, but in June and July they can come out at around 10pm when it's still very bright. A dry spell and heat will bring them out earlier. The chances are he was hungry.


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    #3
    jwshooter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,612 ✭✭✭jwshooter


    from luggala heading up to the sally gap cross roads on the left hand side there is badger sets on the bank , also there is bats living in the bank .

    its luggala property ,not national park


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    #4
    supersportq
    Closed Accounts Posts: 37 ✭supersportq


    Just wondering, is there any account of a badger ever attacking a person ? Let's say if you go near their sett or corner them ? Probably a bit of an urban myth ?


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    #5
    Amtmann
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,093 ✭✭✭Amtmann


    supersportq wrote: »
    Just wondering, is there any account of a badger ever attacking a person ? Let's say if you go near their sett or corner them ? Probably a bit of an urban myth ?

    Very much an urban myth. They are docile animals by and large. Sometimes a badger will just ignore you. The first time I ever saw one was when one emerged backside-first from a hole carrying a load of earth under its belly. It stopped, kicked the earth away, turned around and looked in my direction, scratched, and re-entered the sett before re-emerging and repeating the performance another eight times at least. I was only about 10m away. I went to the sett often after that and watched the badgers all summer long. I even fed bread to the cubs just as you would feed ducks. Lovely, gentle animals. Mind you, I never snared or set dogs on them.


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    #6
    Mothman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,498 ✭✭✭Mothman


    supersportq wrote: »
    Just wondering, is there any account of a badger ever attacking a person ? Let's say if you go near their sett or corner them ? Probably a bit of an urban myth ?
    Naturally if cornered or attacked without escape route they will defend themselves.


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    #7
    supersportq
    Closed Accounts Posts: 37 ✭supersportq


    Furet wrote: »
    Very much an urban myth. They are docile animals by and large. Sometimes a badger will just ignore you. The first time I ever saw one was when one emerged backside-first from a hole carrying a load of earth under its belly. It stopped, kicked the earth away, turned around and looked in my direction, scratched, and re-entered the sett before re-emerging and repeating the performance another eight times at least. I was only about 10m away. I went to the sett often after that and watched the badgers all summer long. I even fed bread to the cubs just as you would feed ducks. Lovely, gentle animals. Mind you, I never snared or set dogs on them.
    Thanks for that. Was thinking about this today and if I remember properly there was a short report one time on some programme like Countrywide on a family in Co. Tyrone I think, whose children started feeding some young badgers at the back of their house. They got so friendly that they would come into the house and drink milk from a saucer etc and let the children pet them like a puppy. As you say lovely, gentle animals.


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