Skip the NI Direct Bar
Skip navigation

Badger population survey begins in November

Monday, 15 October 2007

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is carrying out a survey of the local badger population.

The Badger Stakeholder Group, led by DARD and with membership from the farming community, environmentalists, veterinarians, and academia, recently agreed to the commissioning of a badger population survey.

The terms of reference for the survey are to establish data on badger numbers and their local distribution. The competition for the tender was run during summer 2007 and the contract was awarded to Quercus, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University, Belfast, in partnership with the Central Sciences Laboratory (CSL), Defra, on 6 September.

Preparations are currently underway and the survey field work is due to commence in November with a final report to be presented by the end of May 2008. This survey will not involve any capture or removal of badgers.

Herdkeepers are advised that staff from Quercus and CSL may approach them during the winter and early spring months for access to their land for the purposes of undertaking the survey work. The Department would encourage all herdkeepers and landowners to co-operate, in so far as possible, with the survey staff.

Notes to Editors:

  1. TB disease levels in cattle in Northern Ireland have considerably fallen since 2002 when herd incidence was 9.93% and are continuing to show a downward trend, in 2006 herd incidence stood at 6.23%, a decline of nearly 40%.
  2. A protocol for a badger population survey to establish their numbers and distribution in NI was drawn up, in close consultation with EHS officials. It is necessary to collect this information about badger populations to inform any future decisions relating to badgers.
  3. Any badger management strategy in NI would require the approval of the DOE Minister as the badger is a protected species
  4. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, tel: 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.