The reintroduction of wolves, a national bounty for hunting feral cats, and giving contraceptives to deer were among hundreds of proposals received by the Government following a public consultation on wildlife legislation. One individual called on the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to “stop being silly stick-in-the-muds” and introduce the beaver to Ireland’s natural habitats. Many of the submissions called for foxhunting, harecoursing and snaring badgers to be banned, while others argued for these activities to be protected in any forthcoming legislation. Several submissions called for a ban on harecoursing, describing it as an “indefensible practice”. One submission called for the reintroduction of wolves in Ireland, arguing that this would have positive effects on tree growth and biodiversity.

Source: The Irish Times January 08, 2026 06:57 UTC