Revealed: Twelve badgers culled in County Carlow in the last year by government department

At a recent Dáil Éireann Debate held on Wednesday 11th October 2023, Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of badgers culled, by county, in 2022.

In total twelve badgers had been culled in County Carlow in 2022, with no badgers culled in 2023 to date.

The counties with the highest rates of culling in 2022 include Westmeath where 468 badgers were culled and Clare where 404 badgers were culled. Leitrim, Longford and Louth saw zero badgers culled in 2022.

Minister Charlie McConalogue stated 'All badgers captured by the department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are caught using a stopped body restraint. Badgers that are dispatched, are done so in a humane manner, either by the use of a licensed firearm or by the administration of IV barbiturates by a Veterinary Inspector.'