Badgers

gozunda · 12-12-2019 10:35am

Stacksofwacks wrote: »

Apparently Badgers and Foxes get on famously, even share Dens together

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfZkuMfQdHU

riffmongous · 12-12-2019 10:46am

Bob Harris wrote: »

I believe you're mistaken. It's moles and rats they get on best with and seemingly have little time for mischievous toads.

No he's correct

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Buford T. Justice XIX · 12-12-2019 11:59am

whisky_galore wrote: »

If only they could come up with a vaccine for bovine tb... oh wait too many people in the dept of agriculture would lose their jobs.

You can't vaccinate cattle as you cannot export meat from animals testing positive for TB. And there's no prospect currently of carrying out TB vaccinations as no safe, reliable vaccine exists.

There is a badger TB vaccine currently being used despite some glaring deficiencies in it's suitability. Approximately 60% of badgers become immunized by the vaccination but 40% aren't. Afaik, there's no research done on whether the current level of immunity in that 60% is able to withstand exposure to high levels of TB residuals found in badger habitats like setts.

Interestingly, one of the current highest TB outbreaks in cattle is occurring in Monaghan which, coincidentally, is one of the pilot areas for badger vaccination. So the efficacy of that vaccination policy would have to be questioned.

Kimbot · 12-12-2019 12:00pm

If you want to spot some badgers I do see plenty of them all over the m7 motorway in the mornings :P

Buford T. Justice XIX · 12-12-2019 12:06pm

wiggle16 wrote: »

They'd be more inclined towards cat food.

If you're in Dublin there are a fair few of them in the Phoenix park, but they are very hard to catch a glimpse of, mainly because they're nocturnal and actively avoid people. They tend to sett in places that aren't very accessible to people, I've lived beside the park my whole life and I don't think I've ever knowingly seen a sett.

Also they don't fully hibernate but are much less active during the winter and don't come out in cold weather.

You want badger setts, I've 'king loads of them:mad:

corner of hells · 12-12-2019 12:06pm

Kimbot wrote: »

If you want to spot some badgers I do see plenty of them all over the m7 motorway in the mornings :P

On their way to work ?

topper75 · 12-12-2019 1:01pm

Never seen one alive. I know a good sett in mid-Clare but wouldn't have the patience to sit still through the night. Half thinking about getting a trailcam sometime to at least get footage.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 12-12-2019 1:30pm

topper75 wrote: »

Never seen one alive. I know a good sett in mid-Clare but wouldn't have the patience to sit still through the night. Half thinking about getting a trailcam sometime to at least get footage.

It's not an all night effort. Approach the sett quietly an hour before dusk, position yourself down wind more than 10 metres from the sett, get comfortable sitting against a tree or hedge, so your outline is hidden. Avoid wearing aftershave or scents, don't use torches and keep quiet. Sit there for no more than two hours and you should be able to see them. Some nights nothing happens but you'll know within a couple of hours.

Feisar · 12-12-2019 1:32pm

I've seen them at night however only their eyes reflecting in a lamp.

I've done tonnes of shooting over the years tramping around fields and have never seen one during the daytime.

_Brian · 12-12-2019 1:33pm

Side of the road they are often seen in varying levels of disassembly.

Ghetofarmulous · 12-12-2019 1:36pm

I once told an Ex that a group of badgers will climb a tree and wait for a dear to walk under then they all drop at once and tear the dear apart. I got a lot of Mileage out of that one.

whisky_galore · 12-12-2019 1:49pm

Ghetofarmulous wrote: »

I once told an Ex that a group of badgers will climb a tree and wait for a dear to walk under then they all drop at once and tear the dear apart. I got a lot of Mileage out of that one.

Of course it happens, dear.

IAMAMORON · 12-12-2019 1:51pm

Ghetofarmulous wrote: »

I once told an Ex that a group of badgers will climb a tree and wait for a dear to walk under then they all drop at once and tear the dear apart. I got a lot of Mileage out of that one.

Great way to get her upstairs is to tell her about RATS that hunt in packs of 20 or 30.

Stewball · 12-12-2019 1:55pm

I used to drive a taxi in rural areas a few years ago. I'd regularly see them crossing the road in the middle of night near woodland areas - usually late spring early summer time.

Wibbs · 12-12-2019 2:45pm

I've a few living down the end of my garden. A few years back one in particular used to show up every evening in the summer months around 8 and look in the porch window at whatever was going on. They seemed very curious. Would stick around for about thirty minutes having an oul gander. All that was missing was a bag of popcorn.

They're also into digging holes in lawns and flower beds and making a racket of grunts and growls in the middle of the night.

Even more years back an elderly neighbour of mine and very sound bloke used to sit out of a summer's evening and feed them. They'd walk single file right up to within a metre of him and eat. Very cool to watch. They seemed to recognise him specifically and wouldn't show if there was anyone else with him. Very cool.

I've encountered one or two down the years in daytime. Once quite close up. We both got a shock at seeing each other and both of us froze. The badger made the first move and slowly backed away, with the odd backward glance, back to his gaff. "Here Anne, I just bumped into one of those monkey things. Jaysus they're only feckin huge up close. Smell bad too".

ArchXStanton · 12-12-2019 2:50pm

Wibbs wrote: »

I've a few living down the end of my garden. A few years back one in particular used to show up every evening in the summer months around 8 and look in the porch window at whatever was going on. They seemed very curious. Would stick around for about thirty minutes having an oul gander. All that was missing was a bag of popcorn. They're also into digging holes in lawns and flower beds and making a racket of grunts and growls in the middle of the night.

Even more years back an elderly neighbour of mine and very sound bloke used to sit out of a summer's evening and feed them. They'd walk single file right up to within a metre of him and eat. Very cool to watch. They seemed to recognise him specifically and wouldn't show if there was anyone else with him. Very cool.

I've encountered one or two down the years in daytime. Once quite close up. We both got a shock at seeing each other and both of us froze. The badger made the first move and slowly backed away, with the odd backward glance, back to his gaff. "Here Anne, I just bumped into one of those monkey things. Jaysus they're only feckin huge up close. Smell bad too".

That last part made me laugh, reminded me of a few years ago sitting on a riverbank fishing and along comes a mink, didn't notice me, then we locked eyes and it was bit like the standoff scene in the good, the bad and the ugly, it went for ages

Bob Harris · 12-12-2019 3:02pm

ArchXStanton wrote: »

That last part made me laugh, reminded me of a few years ago sitting on a riverbank fishing and along comes a mink, didn't notice me, then we locked eyes and it was bit like the standoff scene in the good, the bad and the ugly, it went for ages

I saw this with my dog and a semi wild cat. There was a small patch of grass surrounded by a wall on 3 sides, open on the other. The dog was sniffing in by the wall and I could hear kittens crying somewhere on the other side. The mother cat came back and they see each other and both freeze and the dog know's shes cornered in a tight spot. After a bit they both begin to move, the dog ever so slowly to her right and the mother cat to her right, both going anti-clockwise until the dog is on the outside and the cat on the inside and then hops the wall to her young. The dog trots off all casual but you could see she was shítting herself seconds before.

ArchXStanton · 12-12-2019 3:08pm

Bob Harris wrote: »

I saw this with my dog and a semi wild cat. There was a small patch of grass surrounded by a wall on 3 sides, open on the other. The dog was sniffing in by the wall and I could hear kittens crying somewhere on the other side. The mother cat came back and they see each other and both freeze and the dog know's shes cornered in a tight spot. After a bit they both begin to move, the dog ever so slowly to her right and the mother cat to her right, both going anti-clockwise until the dog is on the outside and the cat on the inside and then hops the wall to her young. The dog trots off all casual but you could see she was shítting herself seconds before.

Probably sensed the motherly protective instinct from her, there was a wildcat with kittens under a sheet of galvanise just up the road from me with a hole as an entrance, my mutt made the foolish mistake of sticking his nose in it one evening, he did a wide circle around it in future whilst giving it dirty looks

Bob Harris · 12-12-2019 3:40pm

ArchXStanton wrote: »

Probably sensed the motherly protective instinct from her, there was a wildcat with kittens under a sheet of galvanise just up the road from me with a hole as an entrance, my mutt made the foolish mistake of sticking his nose in it one evening, he did a wide circle around it in future whilst giving it dirty looks

An angry cat is a scary thing.

As for badgers I've only ever seen them dead on the road and a lot in the UK when I'm there where I see an inordinately high amount of roadkill in general compared to Ireland.

DarTipp · 12-12-2019 4:00pm

Bob Harris wrote: »

An angry cat is a scary thing.

As for badgers I've only ever seen them dead on the road and a lot in the UK when I'm there where I see an inordinately high amount of roadkill in general compared to Ireland.

never seen them in the flesh only road kills

Bio Mech · 12-12-2019 4:05pm

mgn wrote: »

The may not break your leg, but the will do a lot of damage before the let it go.

How many badger maulings were there in Ireland last year? I am guessing zero.

Effects · 12-12-2019 4:25pm

RobertKK wrote: »

The department of agriculture cull them near where I live as they were spreading TB.

But the department of agriculture started culling after many cases of TB in the area and badgers were dying in fields and on the road. It did seem to solve the TB problem in the area.

Dept of Ag didn't even bother testing any of the animals they culled to see if they had TB. And culling just gave the remaining badgers more space for them to roam.

chite · 12-12-2019 5:31pm

https://twitter.com/i/status/1203052086834937856

I was left stranded in the midlands of the UK a few years ago and went looking for hostel accommodation to no avail. So I kipped out in a ditch on the edge of a football pitch. Anyway I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of loud, snuffling noises. It was a badger, but it ran away when I moved slightly, it's large body wobbling into the dark void.

mgn · 12-12-2019 5:32pm

Bio Mech wrote: »

How many badger maulings were there in Ireland last year? I am guessing zero.

So your guessing, in other words you haven't a clue.

Effects · 12-12-2019 5:40pm

mgn wrote: »

So your guessing, in other words you haven't a clue.

Zero reports of any badgers attacking humans in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

RobbingBandit · 12-12-2019 5:46pm

Badger my ass it's probably just Milhouse

bonzodog2 · 12-12-2019 5:53pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG8_9Vj8zPA

mgn · 12-12-2019 5:58pm

Effects wrote: »

Zero reports of any badgers attacking humans in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Badgers don't attack humans, unless their cornered and no way out, and when the do it's not pleasant.

Effects · 12-12-2019 6:10pm

mgn wrote: »

Badgers don't attack humans, unless their cornered and no way out, and when the do it's not pleasant.

Except there are no records of any badgers attacking humans for the past number of years.

It's pretty hard to corner a badger by accident anyway.

It's stupid when people talk about how dangerous badgers are when they don't actually attack people. You are far more likely to be attacked and killed by a cow.

mgn · 12-12-2019 6:32pm

Effects wrote: »

Except there are no records of any badgers attacking humans for the past number of years.

It's pretty hard to corner a badger by accident anyway.

It's stupid when people talk about how dangerous badgers are when they don't actually attack people. You are far more likely to be attacked and killed by a cow.

Since when did we start keep records of every accident in this country?,how many people got legs broken from kicks from cows last year, where are you getting your statistics from.
As for cornering a badger its very easy for them to get caught in an old shed or house.

Effects · 12-12-2019 6:34pm

mgn wrote: »

Since when did we start keep records of every accident in this country?

At least 20 years ago or so.

mgn · 12-12-2019 6:37pm

Effects wrote: »

At least 20 years ago or so.

And i suppose you have access to all that information too.

Effects · 12-12-2019 6:38pm

mgn wrote: »

And i suppose you have access to all that information too.

No. Not all of it.

mgn · 12-12-2019 6:40pm

Effects wrote: »

No. Not all of it.

So going back to my original point, you haven't got a clue.

Boggles · 12-12-2019 6:51pm

gozunda wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfZkuMfQdHU

That's an actual outtake from the John Lewis ad.

whisky_galore · 12-12-2019 6:54pm

mgn wrote: »

Since when did we start keep records of every accident in this country?,how many people got legs broken from kicks from cows last year, where are you getting your statistics from.
As for cornering a badger its very easy for them to get caught in an old shed or house.

You would have be either very unlucky or extremely stupid to end up on the losing side of a badger vs human encounter.

Effects · 12-12-2019 7:04pm

mgn wrote: »

So going back to my original point, you haven't got a clue.

You're suggest putting polystyrene down your wellies in case of a badger attack, to fool him into thinking he's broken your leg.
Clearly it's you who doesn't have a clue.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 12-12-2019 7:05pm

Effects wrote: »

Zero reports of any badgers attacking humans in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

They just haven't found the bodies yet:p

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 12-12-2019 7:05pm

mgn wrote: »

So going back to my original point, you haven't got a clue.

Okay then. How many badgers have attacked or harmed people in Ireland in the past five years?

The nearest I'm aware of (and I have a lot of experience with badgers and with people who deal with them regularly) is a snarl or snap when trapped or snared.

Stacksofwacks · 12-12-2019 7:07pm

gozunda wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfZkuMfQdHU

Johnson and Corbyn

mgn · 12-12-2019 7:18pm

Effects wrote: »

You're suggest putting polystyrene down your wellies in case of a badger attack, to fool him into thinking he's broken your leg.
Clearly it's you who doesn't have a clue.

Well there is a few of them about 100 meters from by house, and the have being there for a long as i remember.
As for the polystyrene down the wellies, one of the lads in local gun club told he does when he out lamping foxes. i have no reason not to believe him.

mgn · 12-12-2019 7:26pm

Gabriella Wonderful Chrysalis wrote: »

Okay then. How many badgers have attacked or harmed people in Ireland in the past five years?

The nearest I'm aware of (and I have a lot of experience with badgers and with people who deal with them regularly) is a snarl or snap when trapped or snared.

I don't know or claim to know, but i know of one lad who was attacked when he ran under a hedge one night for shelter from rain while he was out checking cattle, maybe he came to close to young badgers or something.

Effects · 12-12-2019 7:32pm

mgn wrote: »

Well there is a few of them about 100 meters from by house, and the have being there for a long as i remember.
As for the polystyrene down the wellies, one of the lads in local gun club told he does when he out lamping foxes. i have no reason not to believe him.

I've got them 100m from me as well. Never had any issues.

How long as your mate been lamping foxes, and how many badgers has he come across in that time?

mgn · 12-12-2019 7:36pm

Effects wrote: »

I've got them 100m from me as well. Never had any issues.

How long as your mate been lamping foxes, and how many badgers has he come across in that time?

I suppose 20-25 years, i doubt he bothered to counted them.

Dakota Dan · 12-12-2019 7:40pm

Effects wrote: »

Zero reports of any badgers attacking humans in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Only 2 weeks ago I came close to a badger, all he wanted to do was go back in his den.

Effects · 12-12-2019 8:02pm

mgn wrote: »

I suppose 20-25 years, i doubt he bothered to counted them.

Run the numbers and I'd say the hassle of putting poly in your wellies far outweighs any perceived benefits.

mgn · 12-12-2019 8:06pm

Effects wrote: »

Run the numbers and I'd say the hassle of putting poly in your wellies far outweighs any perceived benefits.

Bit like an airbag in a car, most will never use it, but nice to have it just in case.

tabby aspreme · 12-12-2019 8:14pm

I have often met badgers in the farmyard, I used to buy beet and store it in a shed, the badgers would be in the shed around dusk eating bits of beet, and any meal that would be spilt, they would just trundle out by me any time saw me, I have never heard of anyone been attacked by a badger.

tabby aspreme · 12-12-2019 8:18pm

I'm not sure about polystyrene in wellies when out hunting anything, would it not be noisy when you move, I know poly rubbed on glass can attract foxes, but squeaking in wellies I'm not sure.

Effects · 12-12-2019 11:16pm

mgn wrote: »

Bit like an airbag in a car, most will never use it, but nice to have it just in case.

Not really. Airbags save people all the time.

It’d be more like wearing a tinfoil hat, just in case the government are trying to control us with radio signals.

Badgers

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