An Irish Council Against Blood Sports report

Victims of hare coursingduring 2014/15 season

IRELAND'S COURSINGCRUELTY CATALOGUE

The cruelty of hare coursing continues, as documents obtained under Freedom of Informationreveal. During the 2014/15 season, hares - used as live bait - were struck by the chasing grey-hounds. Some hares were killed outright and others later died of their injuries. The documentsalso show the usual breaches of the licence conditions, as reported by National Parks officialswho attended just 17 out of the 75 plus events held all over the country. Our analysis of the doc-uments confirm that coursing clubs are continuing to under-report hare injuries and deaths.

For example, at Galway and Oranmore, over the three days of coursing, the coursers stated that 6 haresrequired assistance (meaning dogs hit/mauled hare), while the ranger who monitored two days ofcoursing noted 11 hares struck by dogs (6 hits, 5 pins). At Borrisoleigh, a NPWS ranger stated that 6hares were struck, with 4 dying of injuries, while coursers said that 5 hares required assistance. At EastDonegal, the ranger noted that 3 hares were hit by dogs and 2 hares were dead in enclosure the fol-lowing day. In contrast, the coursers cited zero hares requiring assistance and two hares dead from so-called natural causes. The coursing club's vet recorded no hare deaths and no post mortems.

Then there were the licence breaches at coursing meetings attended by National Parks rangers. At theNorth Kilkenny meeting, a ranger noted that hares were coursed more than once. He also noted thatthere was no veterinary involvement on the first day of coursing. Regarding Doon & District, a NPWSofficial stated that the club appeared to be in breach of Section 44 of the netting licence, as they couldnot produce details on their members who were certified to catch hares on their behalf. He added thatDoon released 3 hares without consulting the ranger another breach of Section 34. The official com-mented that the clubs husbandry of the hares was lacking in terms of food and shelter and that someof the hares were not in good condition...many had sores on their feet.

At the meeting of Mallow coursing club (which the Minister, in her infinite wisdom, decided not to sanc-tion for licence breaches in 2013/14), hares were run down from the escape area - where coursed haresare kept. This is a sign that hares may have been re-coursed on the same day. To the question, "werehares coursed more than once on any day", the ranger did not tick either yes or no, signalling that theranger was unsure as to whether hares were re-coursed. The ranger noted that the escape area was notfully divided, meaning that non-coursed hares were able to mingle with coursed hares.

At Thurles, contrary to a conservation rangers request, hares were brought from the escape area at theinterval. The club told the ranger that three hares had been boxed but it became apparent later thatseven were boxed. In an email to NPWS HQ, an official for the mid-south region noted: This appears tobe a breach of Section 34 of the licence.

If coursers are prepared to under-report hare injuries and kills and to breach licence conditions under thenoses of monitoring NPWS officials, it is more than likely that this is also occurring at meetings which arenot being monitored. As one National Parks official pointed out in an internal memo, "nearly all harecoursing conditions" are "very difficult to really attempt to enforce".

And the coursers know this. Every year, a sham exercise is played out by the National Parks HQ, whowrite to the Irish Coursing Club, raising licence breaches by their affiliated clubs. We suspect the cours-ers are thumbing their noses and literally laughing at the National Parks & Wildlife Service, because theyknow that no action will be taken, leaving them free to do as they please.

After reading this report, please join us in urging Minister Humphreys to ban hare coursing.

Aideen YourellIrish Council Against Blood Sports

INTRODUCTION

Thurles, 25, 26 October, 2014

Coursers state that 4 hares "required assistance" and 4 were exam-ined by vet, with 1 being treated by vet. Coursers claim that 2 haresescaped. Meanwhile, the NPWS ranger in a memo to NPWS HQ,regarding an injured hare, stated: "I did not notice the hare on theSaturday. I don't take the hares out of the boxes but check their sta-tus by looking at them and feeling their backs. If I notice somethingunusual, I take it out or ask the club to take it out. What caught myattention on the Sunday was the smell coming out of the box. When Itook the hare out, I noticed a large injury to the shoulder and front ofone of the legs. I asked the attending vet to check the hare. He said itwasn't too bad, would give it some antibiotics. I did ask should it beput down right there but he disagreed. He later approached me in theday and said that he had given the hare a long acting antibiotic (3days) and a steroid for pain and that the injury appeared worse thanhe initially thought. He said to bring the animal to a vet in 3 days. Idid that and the vet I brought it to recommended it be put down."

NPWS officials cited other problems at this meeting, including a sus-picion that hares were coursed twice in one day, a breach of thelicence conditions, and also that not all hares were released in day-light, another breach.

Borrisoleigh, December 26, 27, 2014

In an internal email from a National Parks official, it was stated that"F---- (figure blanked out) died in the paddock before the meeting andfour more hares died in the paddock between day one and two, butno post mortem carried out." The Borrisoleigh coursers stated that 5hares "required assistance" and 5 were examined by vet, with 3dying, but no post mortem carried out by vet. Coursers had 71 haresat start of meeting and released 64, stating that 4 hares had escaped.Meanwhile, the conservation ranger stated that Borrisoleigh had 6hares hit by dogs on day 1, with 4 dying overnight, most likely fromthe injuries they received the previous day.

The ranger also stated that she had a problem with the muzzling,stating: "there may be a problem with the current muzzles they areusing."

Tubbercurry/Kilcreevin/Ballymote/Ballymena, 9/10/11 Jan, 2015

Coursers stated that 9 hares "required assistance" with 1 beingeuthanised by vet and 4 died, 3 in pen and 1 in a box. No postmortem carried out on any of these hares by vet.

Dundalk & Dowdallshill, 26, 27 December, 2014

Coursers state that 8 hares "required assistance" and 3 wereeuthanised by vet as a result of their injuries.

Balbriggan, 22, 23 November, 2014

Coursers state 3 hares "required assistance" and 3 died and 2"escaped. Vet report cites nil hares treated for injuries and does notrefer to 3 hare deaths or post mortem.

Co. Kerry, 26, 27 December, 2014

Coursers state 4 hares "required assistance" and 4 examined by vet,with 2 dying. Vet states on his report that 1 hare was "dead in box"and 1 hare "dead in escape". No post mortems were carried out

Cashel, 11, 12 October, 2014

Coursers state 1 hare "required assistance" 1 examined by vet and 1euthanised by vet. No post mortem.

Co. Carlow, 7, 8, 9 November, 2014

Coursers state 3 hares "required assistance" and 3 examined by vet.1 hare noted to have died between 9 and 11 November, but no postmortem carried out.

Westport/Castletown-Geoghegan, 12, 13 14 December, 2014

Coursers state 5 hares "required assistance", 5 examined by vet and1 died of "natural causes". Vet makes no reference to this hare deathand no post mortem carried out.

Cavan/Dungannon, 14, 15 16 November, 2014

Coursers state 3 hares "required assistance" and 3 examined by vet.Coursers also state that 1 hare died after it "hit post while beingreboxed for release". No post mortem carried out on this hare.

East Donegal, 20, 21 December, 2014

Ranger stated that 2 hares were hit by dogs and noted on his reportthat "2 hares dead in the enclosure on day no. 2. May have died frominjuries on day 1." Coursers did not record any hares struck andclaimed 2 hares died of "natural causes". Vet recorded no hares treat-ed and no deaths. No post mortems carried out on dead hares.

Doon & District, 29, 30 November, 2014

Coursers state that 2 hares "required assistance" and 2 examined byvet, who noted that he treated 12 hares with antibiotics, but offeredno explanation as to why the hares needed this treatment. Coursersclaim that 2 hares "escaped on 2 day during coursing and one afterbeing boxed". (How could it escape from box?).

Meanwhile, NPWS official, Stefan Jones, stated in an email to NPWSHQ that Doon coursing club appeared to be in breach of Section 34of the netting licence as they could not produce details on their mem-bers who were certified to catch hares on their behalf.

Also, according to the NPWS official, Doon released 3 hares withoutconsulting the ranger - another breach of Section 34.

NPWS official also commented on the husbandry of hares as follows:"Issues include the provision of sheaf oats, more sallys and sheltersand better foot baths. Some of the hares were not in good conditionor fit to course, according to vet. Many had sores on their feet."

Enniscorthy, 22, 23 November, 2014

NPWS ranger stated 6 hares struck by greyhounds, 1 injured and 1put down because of injuries. Coursers state 6 hares "required assis-tance" and 1 died. Vet did not refer to any dead hare nor was a postmortem carried out.

Galway & Oranmore (held at Glin) 4, 5, 6 November, 2014

NPWS ranger stated 6 hares hit by dogs on day 1 (3 hits and 3 pins),1 hare put down because of injuries on day 2, according to vet, andon day 3, NPWS recorded 5 hits (3 hits, 2 pins). Meanwhile coursersstated that 6 hares "required assistance" over the 3 days of coursing,in contrast to the 11 noted by ranger for 2 days of coursing attended.

NPWS ranger noted that there was heavy rain all night on the night ofthe 5th and all day on the 6th and that the area in front of the escapebecame very poached as the day progressed, and that it was evidentthat towards the last few courses the hares were reluctant to runthrough the poached up mud.

Lixnaw, 28, 29, 30 November, 2014

Coursers state that 3 hares "required assistance", 1 treated by vetand 1 put down by vet because of injuries.

Macroom, 15, 16 January, 2015

Coursers state that 2 hares "required assistance" and 1 died. Thishare was described as "killed" by vet.

Mallow, 22, 23 October, 2014

NPWS ranger stated that 3 hares were struck, "1 of which mauledand had to be carried off) on day 1, and 1 hare hit on day 2. Ranger

noted that hares were run down during lunch from escape to boxingarea, a sign that hares may have been recoursed on same day. Coursers in contrast stated that just 1 hare "required assistance" overthe 2 days.

Wexford & District, 26/27 December, 2014

NPWS ranger stated that 4 hares pinned over the 2 days, with 1 hareinjured and 1 put down because of injuries. Meanwhile coursers stat-ed that 4 hares "required assistance" with 1 being euthanised by vet.

Nenagh, 8, 9 November, 2014

NPWS ranger reported 4 hares hit by dogs. Ranger also noted thaton visiting the grounds on 8 November, there were 2 young haresand 2 heavily pregnant hares. Ranger stated that coursers expressedconcerns that given the wet ground, hares might not run as well asthey could. Coursers stated that 3 hares "required assistance".

Tradaree, Co. Clare, 10, 11 December, 2014

NPWS report records 12 hares hit by dog, 75 hares at start of meet-ing "+ 1 dead". Meanwhile coursers report 3 hares "requiring assis-tance" and vet's report stated that 2 hares were "unfit for coursing" 1injured and 1 "sick or otherwise unfit" after coursing. No reference totreatment of hares, and no post mortem on dead hare referred to byNPWS ranger.

North Kilkenny, 20/21 December 2014

Ranger report cited 6 hares injured by dogs, while coursers cite 5hares "requiring assistance" and "examined by vet". Discrepancy innumber of injuries. To the question "were hares coursed more thanonce on any day", the ranger ticked Yes. He also ticked that therewas no veterinary involvement, with vet on call only on day 1. Rangeralso noted that 1 hare was "in season" on both days of meeting.

He noted that there were 74 hares available on day 1 of the meeting,but 79 courses run, so hares must have been recoursed as rangerticked on day 1, a certain breach of the licence. However, the cours-ers stated that just 64 coursers were run on day 1 and 48 on day 2,as opposed to the ranger with 79 on day 1 and 59 on day 2.

What caught my attention was the smell comingout of the box. When I took the hare out,

I noticed a large injury to the shoulderand front of one of the legs

Thurles, 25, 26 October, 2014

"Hares died in paddock before the meeting and4 more died in the paddock between days 1&2"

Borrisoleigh, December 26, 27, 2014

"2 hares dead in the enclosure on day 2. Mayhave died from injuries on day 1"

East Donegal, 20, 21 December, 2014

Some of the hares were not in good condition orfit to course. Many had sores on their feet

Doon & District, 29, 30 November, 2014

Ranger stated that 3 hares were struck, 1 ofwhich mauled and had to be carried off

Mallow, 22, 23 October, 2014

Ranger noted that there were 2 young haresand 2 heavily pregnant hares.Nenagh, 8, 9 November, 2014

HELP THE HARESTAKE ACTION NOW

Contact the Minister for Arts and Heritage, Heather Humphreys, and urge her not to issue a licence for another season of hare coursing.

Email "Stop the cruelty. No more coursing licences" toHeather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie

or telephone your message in to 01 - 618 3408

Sign the petition: Stop Licensing Cruel Hare Coursinghttps://www.change.org/p/minister-heather-humphreys-stop-licensing-cruel-

hare-coursing [or www.tinyurl.com/harepetition2]

Click on "Campaigns" at www.banbloodsports.com or scan theQR code for more information, photographs and video footage.

Irish Council Against Blood Sports PO Box 88, Mullingar,

Co Westmeath, Ireland.Email: info@banbloodsports.com

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