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meles meles

Are Irish badgers a distinct subspecies?

Undoubtedly one of the biggest wildlife issues in Ireland and Britain over the last few years has been the role of badgers (Meles meles) in the transmission of TB to cattle and the subsequent culling efforts to curtail the disease. This has understandably led to public outcry over this culling….

Badger baiting arrests in Northern Ireland as authorities clamp down

Police and the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) carried out five searches in County Down over recent weeks as part of a UK wide operation to clamp down on badger baiting. Two men were arrested and several dogs were rescued – some of them seriously….

Badger (Meles meles)

A badger enjoying the natural beauty of an Irish field.

The Badger is the largest Irish member of the mustelid or weasel family and is one of our most distinctive mammals. Its stocky body, short, powerful limbs and striking black-and-white head markings make the badger unmistakeable. Adult badgers are typically 65-80 cm (25-32 inches) long and weigh between 8 and….