Badgers

mgn

Effects wrote: »

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.

If you say so. you seem to have an answer for everything.

tabby aspreme

Another interesting fact about Badgers is they can vary their gestation length.

gozunda

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.

Farmers eh? Would that be one of those naturally inseminated, inbred cows running around the farm? What about a bull?

PsychoPete

The last badger I seen was one I hit while driving, I think it was about 4k worth of damage to car

nthclare

The lowlands of the Burren is quite full of badger's, especially the road from Corofin to Lough Bunny and along the new line towards Kinvara.

Sometimes you'll see owls following in front of your car if you're going slow due to frost on the road.
They have great eyesight but they still take advantage of the car light, which I suppose is logical.

Badger's look funny while walking, they're like an old hunched man looking for a bottle of brandy in the dark

I can imagine them saying "where the feck did I leave that brandy" its here somewhere

gozunda

nthclare wrote: »

The lowlands of the Burren is quite full of badger's, especially the road from Corofin to Lough Bunny and along the new line towards Kinvara.

Sometimes you'll see owls following in front of your car if you're going slow due to frost on the road.
They have great eyesight but they still take advantage of the car light, which I suppose is logical.

Badger's look funny while walking, they're like an old hunched man looking for a bottle of brandy in the dark

I can imagine them saying "where the feck did I leave that brandy" its here somewhere

"They had felt hungry before, but when they actually saw at last the supper that was spread for them, really it seemed only a question of what they should attack first where all was so attractive, and whether the other things would obligingly wait for them till they had time to give them attention. Conversation was impossible for a long time; and when it was slowly resumed, it was that regrettable sort of conversation that results from talking with your mouth full. The Badger did not mind that sort of thing at all, nor did he take any notice of elbows on the table, or everybody speaking at once. As he did not go into Society himself, he had got an idea that these things belonged to the things that didn't really matter (We know of course that he was wrong, and took too narrow a view; because they do matter very much, though it would take too long to explain"

Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame,

Effects

gozunda wrote: »

Farmers eh? Would that be one of those naturally inseminated, inbred cows running around the farm? What about a bull?

It's the ladies you need to watch out for. You'll be watching the bull.

nthclare

Back when kids had an grasp on grammar and natural euphemism.

When observation was matched with what's going on around us in the natural world, and it was endearingly beautiful.

I loved Wind in the Willows.

Something that connected with me as a kid, all those anima and different personalities.

gozunda

Effects wrote: »

It's the ladies you need to watch out for. You'll be watching the bull.

Ah sure no one is afraid of the bull - only AI these days apparently

Bio Mech

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.

Oh some lad told you. Sure thats conclusive. You won me over there.

Do you know whats even better than polystyrene in the welly. You could break some polystyrene at home and record it on your phone. And if a badger ever gets hold of you just play the recording. Or even play it before he attacks and he will probably think its job done and just leave you be. Some lad said that to me.

mgn

Bio Mech wrote: »

Oh some lad told you. Sure thats conclusive. You won me over there.

Do you know whats even better than polystyrene in the welly. You could break some polystyrene at home and record it on your phone. And if a badger ever gets hold of you just play the recording. Or even play it before he attacks and he will probably think its job done and just leave you be. Some lad said that to me.

Your wasted on here, you should apply to NASA for a job with your brilliant ideas.

Widdershins

On a lovely thread about badgers, people are arguing about polystyrene and sticks and wellies:D

Stacksofwacks, I do know a couple of spots in Clare and we're going to camp over night in the new year, near enough to observe them snuffling about their business. It's a shame there are people who get their kicks from badger baiting, especially in Clare. Otherwise we could freely share locations. If you make a habit of woodland walks you're bound to discover a set sooner or later.

evil_seed

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

They also have a tendency to carry TB.

One used to visit a house I lived in, he was after windfalls. Used to hear it around 2am, thought someone was in my front garden until I spotted it.

I think this is a myth

would here be a better start @OP - https://www.badgerwatch.ie/

Utter Consternation

Snails pace wrote: »

Woodlands is always a good place, especially if theres a stream near by. Keep your distance because their a dangerous thing and hardy. I heard a few old fellas around here who used trap badgers put 2 sticks on the side of their legs in case they were bitten. A badger wont let go until it hears the bone breaks. when it hears sticks break it'll leave go. I never tried it

The only way to get the badger to release is to stick your finger up its hole apparently.

nthclare

Widdershins wrote: »

On a lovely thread about badgers, people are arguing about polystyrene and sticks and wellies:D

Stacksofwacks, I do know a couple of spots in Clare and we're going to camp over night in the new year, near enough to observe them snuffling about their business. It's a shame there are people who get their kicks from badger baiting, especially in Clare. Otherwise we could freely share locations. If you make a habit of woodland walks you're bound to discover a set sooner or later.

Sounds really interesting, its great to get out there and just do it

Bullocks

evil_seed wrote: »

I think this is a myth

would here be a better start @OP - https://www.badgerwatch.ie/

No its not, a lad in the village was riding one and he caught tb. Nearly killed the poor devil. Only for all the prayers his mother said he would be a goner I'd say.
He will never get up on another one he reckoned after it

Dakota Dan

PsychoPete wrote: »

The last badger I seen was one I hit while driving, I think it was about 4k worth of damage to car

What were you driving? A Porsche?

gozunda

evil_seed wrote: »

I think this is a myth

would here be a better start @OP - https://www.badgerwatch.ie/

Unfortunately not. Badgers can indeed get and even die from TB

https://www.tcd.ie/news_events/articles/going-the-extra-mile-new-research-into-badger-dispersal-could-minimise-bovine-tb-spread/

Discodog

There's never been a recorded case of a Swan breaking an arm yet so many quote it.

Same with Badgers. I have rescued injured Badgers & you really do need to know what you are doing. But they aren't aggressive.

OP talk to your local Wildlife Ranger. Be prepared to be viewed with suspicion as there are people that want to harm Badgers.

You still see adverts where people refer to a dog as a good "Brock Dog".

Snow Garden

When TB was a bigger problem some farmers would block off the badger set/den exits and then fill the sets with exhaust fumes from tractors.
When the badgers came out, dogs/farmers would attack and kill them. Pretty barbaric.

I came across 2 badgers fighting one night in the Burren. They were locked into each other and were making the most awful screaming sound. I reckon badgers fighting have been mistaken for banshee screams down the years!

mgn

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1429969/Boris-the-badger-sets-about-BBC-man.html

Nobody must have heard of Boris the Badger.

Utter Consternation

mgn wrote: »

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1429969/Boris-the-badger-sets-about-BBC-man.html

Nobody must have heard of Boris the Badger.

Jesus Christ. That's rough.

Widdershins

Google the Tulla otter

Snow Garden

Widdershins wrote: »

Google the Tulla otter

https://www.thejournal.ie/otter-lunacy-in-co-clare-as-farmer-rescues-frightened-animal-123432-Apr2011/

Utter Consternation

Snow Garden wrote: »

https://www.thejournal.ie/otter-lunacy-in-co-clare-as-farmer-rescues-frightened-animal-123432-Apr2011/

That otter was a pure thug! He looked delighted to be getting out the back window of the jeep.

Bio Mech

mgn wrote: »

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1429969/Boris-the-badger-sets-about-BBC-man.html

Nobody must have heard of Boris the Badger.

And to think the whole episode could have been avoided with some simple polystyrene

Boggles

Discodog wrote: »

There's never been a recorded case of a Swan breaking an arm yet so many quote it.

One drowned a dog last summer.

Pure evil.

Dakota Dan

Snow Garden wrote: »

When TB was a bigger problem some farmers would block off the badger set/den exits and then fill the sets with exhaust fumes from tractors.
When the badgers came out, dogs/farmers would attack and kill them. Pretty barbaric.

I came across 2 badgers fighting one night in the Burren. They were locked into each other and were making the most awful screaming sound. I reckon badgers fighting have been mistaken for banshee screams down the years!

It foxes barking that was mistaken for the banshee as foxes have a few different types of bark.

I’ve been around a long and never heard of farmers doing that to badgers.

tabby aspreme

Boggles wrote: »

One drowned a dog last summer.

Pure evil.

Did the swan land in the dogs garden and drag the dog into a paddling pool, or did the dog attempt to interfere with the swan or its young in the swans natural habitat

ednwireland

my garden, i hear them but they can run fast so rarely see them

Sheepdish1

ArchXStanton wrote: »

Does your dog not go mental? I have 2 foxes that visit every night for food I leave out for them and the cats, even if my dog senses them he goes crazy, they hate them. On the plus side, it's hilarious watching on the cctv the nightly battle between the cats and foxes over the food, cats take no messing

I thought foxes were a threat to cats until I spoke to a cat behaviourist who said they don’t bother with them as they are too risky! Maybe kittens but not cats

gozunda

Sheepdish1 wrote: »

I thought foxes were a threat to cats until I spoke to a cat behaviourist who said they don’t bother with them as they are too risky! Maybe kittens but not cats

Had a ginger Tom Cat taken by a fox from the farmyard. The screams of the cat caught my attention but by the time I got to where the fox was the cat was dead. They will and do attack cats and other pets. It's not unknown.

Widdershins

Dakota Dan wrote: »

It foxes barking that was mistaken for the banshee as foxes have a few different types of bark.

I’ve been around a long and never heard of farmers doing that to badgers.

I've heard the vixens scream a few times. It is haunting.
I have heard of it, and in Wales they send ferrets into the setts to flush them.

mgn

Sheepdish1 wrote: »

I thought foxes were a threat to cats until I spoke to a cat behaviourist who said they don’t bother with them as they are too risky! Maybe kittens but not cats

Hens and chickens are the foxes favorite takeaway.

Discodog

Sheepdish1 wrote: »

I thought foxes were a threat to cats until I spoke to a cat behaviourist who said they don’t bother with them as they are too risky! Maybe kittens but not cats

They pose no threat. But you will hear stories that they do to justify classing them as vermin.

Boggles

tabby aspreme wrote: »

Did the swan land in the dogs garden and drag the dog into a paddling pool, or did the dog attempt to interfere with the swan or its young in the swans natural habitat

What you mean?

Sick!

u140acro3xs7dm

Badgers will fight a man, listen to this lads story.
https://youtu.be/idgwsxVXyGo

gozunda

Regarding the size of an attacker relative to what is being attacked - the following youtube video shows a full sized swan being attacked by a mink. The swan does succeed in getting away but not without some difficulty.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F0SsB1vQ3kU/maxresdefault.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jkUc4hU_Vg

PsychoPete

Dakota Dan wrote: »

What were you driving? A Porsche?

The newest version of the A6, did hit it at a fair pace. There was a lot of bits of bumper and plastic scattered around

Doctors room ghost

PsychoPete wrote: »

The newest version of the A6, did hit at a fair pace. There was a lot of bits of bumper and plastic scattered around

I know a lad who burst the rad on a Nissan bluebird after stricking a badger.he reckons he had his foot planted and was only hitting the road in spots.
He said it sounded like a bomb going off.

They’re armour plated hardy little fcukers are them badgers.

Effects

Boggles wrote: »

One drowned a dog last summer.

Pure evil.

Nothing evil about that incident, it was self defence.

Ghetofarmulous

IAMAMORON wrote: »

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

The best part was watching her watching out for Charlies in the trees

Trizo

Lovely animals I used to photograph a badger family at a sett over the space of 5-6 years got very familiar with them.

In the beginning I must admit I brought a stick with me in the wellies due to all the tales.. have to say was never needed, and wouldn’t be.
Had one sit on my feet one night and start barging me outta the way of food ( must have been seen as competition !)

Setts are fairly easy to find , have only seen them a few times during the day usually due to unusual weather conditions I.e extremely dry weather. Led to some funny stand offs alright both staring at each other as if to say what you doing here it’s daytime !

Srameen gave some good advice earlier in the thread for watching them. I have watched them from a distance at a few setts but also used to lure them closer using food to areas that I had lighting set up etc..

PeteEd

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.

23 and 2/3 according to The KLF

whisky_galore

Effects wrote: »

Nothing evil about that incident, it was self defence.

Yes. Animals don't have a concept of good or evil. That's why they're animals.

tabby aspreme

Boggles wrote: »

What you mean?

Sick!

Sums you up perfectly