Dead Badger in Rathfarnham, Dublin

tororosso

I was out along the River Dodder at the weekend and I noticed this fella lying near a road along the river in Rathfarnham:





I am not aware of the numbers of badgers that are supposed to exist in the Dublin city area so I was wondering if anybody has any idea of this? From the looks of things it seems that he was killed by a fox although that's just speculation.

bernard0368

There are a couple of sets around the area. One I have come across lately is very active. T

V_Moth

Might be a good idea to submit this record to the ongoing Mammal Atlas:

http://mammals.biodiversityireland.ie

dodderangler

Dodder has plenty of badgers on it
There's one I see usually at last light during fishing season big heavy lad
As for a fox killing a badger
Very doubtful I'd go with the other way around
Badgers are very dangerous to any fox or dog
Not many dogs can take on a big boar

tororosso

bernard0368 wrote: »

There are a couple of sets around the area. One I have come across lately is very active. T

The fact that it is a very urban area would make one imagine that it would be unlikely for there to be sets in the area but its nice to hear it.

@V_Moth: Thanks for that, will put in a record later on

@dodderangler: Where abouts on the Dodder would that be? I don't think the badger got hit by a car as it was lying several yards away from the road so just assumed it got attacked by something. The guy I saw didn't seem quite as big and would have been dwarfed by most dogs.

dodderangler

At firhouse there's a regular lad and I know where his set is
He's been there years gone quite old looking actually really grey looking ( get it he's a badger lol)
Badgers aren't actually huge animals but the size doesn't stop them
They are dwarfed by most big preds but are known for aggression
In Africa the honey badger is known as the most aggressive animal in Africa and lions won't even tangle with one
In fact the cheetah cubs are relatively safe because when young resemble a ratel ( honey badger )
Same in America the badger has been known to chase wolves off their kills and they are near put in same group as a wolverine when it comes to aggression
The cuts on his back legs suggest something was eating it when it died like a hungry fox, crows and other corvids.

But I wouldn't rule out a few dogs being set on attacking it and killing it
This has happened on the dodder before and I was told by a person that's done it

tororosso

dodderangler wrote: »

At firhouse there's a regular lad and I know where his set is
He's been there years gone quite old looking actually really grey looking ( get it he's a badger lol)
Badgers aren't actually huge animals but the size doesn't stop them
They are dwarfed by most big preds but are known for aggression
In Africa the honey badger is known as the most aggressive animal in Africa and lions won't even tangle with one
In fact the cheetah cubs are relatively safe because when young resemble a ratel ( honey badger )
Same in America the badger has been known to chase wolves off their kills and they are near put in same group as a wolverine when it comes to aggression
The cuts on his back legs suggest something was eating it when it died like a hungry fox, crows and other corvids.

But I wouldn't rule out a few dogs being set on attacking it and killing it
This has happened on the dodder before and I was told by a person that's done it

Cheers Dodderangler, might pm you for the location next time I'm going down to the dodder.

When I first noticed the badger I saw that a magpie was at it so that would go with what you say although it's pretty awful to think that somebody is letting dogs on them down by those parts

CJhaughey

tororosso wrote: »

I don't think the badger got hit by a car as it was lying several yards away from the road so just assumed it got attacked by something. The guy I saw didn't seem quite as big and would have been dwarfed by most dogs.

I'd say it was hit by a car and may have been seriously injured but strong enough to crawl away and die.
Its been eaten by scavengers, rats, crows and foxes.
They usually start from the ass end as its an easy way into the meat of the hind quarters.
Skulls are hard to crack.

GHOST MGG

there are quite a few badgers around the rathfarnham area,i often see two always together on my road that runs along side the dodder.
We have numerous foxes with cubs,herons and what i believe to be a few mink on the river beside us.

cuddlycavies

Yep, they visit gardens in Ballyroan. They're pretty plentiful just very nocturnal so we dont see them so much.

dodderangler

GHOST MGG wrote: »

there are quite a few badgers around the rathfarnham area,i often see two always together on my road that runs along side the dodder.
We have numerous foxes with cubs,herons and what i believe to be a few mink on the river beside us.

The mink won't be around much longer

tororosso

GHOST MGG wrote: »

there are quite a few badgers around the rathfarnham area,i often see two always together on my road that runs along side the dodder.
We have numerous foxes with cubs,herons and what i believe to be a few mink on the river beside us.

Where abouts are the foxes with cubs and the mink that you see? you can send me a pm if you don't want to post it here

tororosso

dodderangler wrote: »

The mink won't be around much longer

Why, what's happening to them?!

meathstevie

tororosso wrote: »

Why, what's happening to them?!

Hopefully they get trapped and destroyed as they're an absolute disaster for native wildlife that belongs along the Dodder.

dodderangler

meathstevie wrote: »

Hopefully they get trapped and destroyed as they're an absolute disaster for native wildlife that belongs along the Dodder.

Exactly
They are non native species and are destroying the local wildlife
Example: a fox could break into a chicken house and kill one maybe two chickens and carry them away to be eatin or dug in ground to be eatin another day
A mink will break into chicken coop and kill everything that lives in it and not even take one with it

The kingfishers are taking a big hit from mink same as most water birds as they have no defence against a mink