Fox's habitate upset by NAMA

Johnnio13

NAMA sub-contractors have recently begun demolition and land scrubbing with heavy machinery on land that was previously belonging to a developer. The land is beside a built up area and I have been watching a fox make the area his own for the last 5 years.
However, the front loader is wiping out the foxes den and hunting grounds. (lots of rabbits, mice and the likes in a 5-7 acre site.)
Is there any onus on these sub-contractors to take this into account before work starts does anyone know? Fearing the worst for the poor fox.

swifts need our help!

I dont think they can clear undergrowth at this time of year. Contact BirdWatch Ireland and or your local biodiversity officer

bernard0368

They may well be required to notify the National parks and wildlife service before doing this type of work, contact them it does sound like they would be required to do so as it is still nesting season.
The poor fox however has no protection under the law, they are classed as vermin

Johnnio13

Thanks folks. Have written to them to seek guidance.
Its too late now anyway, the land is well flattened and builders are moving on.

Half-cocked

Johnnio13 wrote: »

Its too late now anyway, the land is well flattened and builders are moving on.

That seems to be the way of it. Move in, flatten everything, move out before anyone can do anything about it. A lot of stuff seems to get done at weekends when no one in NPWS can be contacted to enquire if it is above board.

magicbastarder

Johnnio13 wrote: »

Its too late now anyway, the land is well flattened and builders are moving on.

what the hell are they going to build? is there a demand for empty houses now?

Johnnio13

Not building anything. Putting up a mecano fence and taking down the wooden hoardings that were advertising the development.
The place will be covered in weeds in 2 weeks!

magicbastarder

if you can get access to the site, might be no harm - even if it's late in the year - to source wildflower seeds and scatter them around the site.

Ulmus

Today I saw workmen spraying with herbicide the Smurfit factory site on Botanic Road - another NAMA property. Plants sprayed include birch, buddleia, red valerian, weld, ragwort, poppy and hawkbit. Such a shame, it was like an unofficial nature reserve. Last winter a flock of linnets fed here.