Gardaí search for illegal hare hunters in Lough Boora

LOUGH Boora Discovery Park has recently been targeted by criminals engaged in trespass and illegal hare hunting.

A Garda spokesperson in Birr Garda Station told The Midland Tribune that on Tuesday January 20th the presence of two “suspicious” men in Lough Boora was reported to the Garda Station. NPWS Conservation Rangers and the Gardaí attended the scene but, despite an extensive search, couldn't locate the trespassers.

There has been an increase recently of people trespassing on farmland in South Offaly and illegally hunting hares. The Gardaí have been working in tandem with the National Parks & Wildlife Service for several weeks to combat this.

The Gardaí said the criminals are using thermal imaging binoculars to detect hares in the farmland. With thermal imaging capabilities, they can detect the heat signatures of the hares. “The drivers drop off the culprits with their lurchers,” said the spokesperson, “and then drive away and wait in another spot in order to not draw attention to the culprits.”

The spokesperson said the Gardai apprehended a couple of the criminals a number of weeks ago. On Wednesday January 14th the Gardaí were on mobile patrol at 11.45pm in Lumcloon Ferbane when they saw a suspicious vehicle, an SUV, parked at a field entrance. In the SUV two males were with two lurchers and two lamps, in breach of the Wildlife Act. They searched the SUV and found a dead hare. A file is being prepared for the DPP.

The Gardaí are advising farmers and landowners to not confront these illegal hunters. “If it's possible people should try and get the registration number of the vehicle and report it to us.”