THE HEAD of the National Parks and Wildlife Service in Co Donegal has been highly critical of farmers over the recent deaths of protected birds by poison.
He has also blamed irresponsible action by some farmers for gorse fires which have damaged the landscape.
Dave Duggan, deputy regional manager of the parks and wildlife service, said gardaí and the Department of Agriculture were carrying out an investigation after a buzzard found dead recently in the Bloody Foreland area of Gweedore was found to have been poisoned.
Tests showed it had ingested meat baits laced with alpha-chloralose, a substance which is normally used to kill vermin such as rats and mice.
“This is just another example of the widespread disregard shown for legislation and the environment by farmers,” Mr Duggan said.
“Another big problem is the careless starting of gorse fires. Everyone knows that it is illegal to burn gorse at this time of year, but this is another example of the blatant disregard for that law too,” he said.
He said that to use alpha-chloralose poison legally, farmers must notify gardaí when and where it would be placed and must erect signs to notify the public of the danger.
He added that the latest crisis had seen 10 protected birds poisoned around the country in the last month.
“Another big issue is that the IFA has not been clear in its condemnation of these practices.”
He added that the reintroduction of birds of prey into the wild may have to be abandoned after the latest spate of poisonings.
Certain birds were brought in from countries like Norway and Scotland.
However, a spokesman for the Donegal branch of the IFA, Davie Keith, said it was unfair of Mr Duggan to criticise his organisation, adding that the IFA condemned outright any laying of poisons.
He said the organisation did not recommend to anyone that they could break rules or legislation and that it encouraged sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.
“This issue has come up at IFA meetings and farmers have been told from the top table what the position is in relation to the laying of poison,” Mr Keith said.
“At no point in time have we misled farmers or anyone for that matter.
“The same applies to gorse fires. I received a number of calls from farmers about this recently, and I told them they certainly cannot burn gorse at this time of the year.
“Poisoning is regrettable in any shape or form, and we strongly warn against it.”