Wicklow badger cull figures highlight scale of TB challenge
The Wicklow PeopleNew figures show County Wicklow remains one of the most heavily targeted counties in the national badger culling programme, underscoring the scale of the bovine tuberculosis (TB) problem facing farmers and wildlife managers in the region.
The data, provided by Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon in response to a parliamentary question from Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore, sets out county by county cull totals for the past five years and confirms that Wicklow continues to record persistently high levels of intervention.
The figures are split between Wicklow East and Wicklow West, reflecting long‑standing differences in wildlife density and TB risk across the county.
In 2025, Wicklow East recorded 187 badgers culled, while Wicklow West accounted for 89, giving a combined total of 276. The previous year saw an even higher combined figure of 316.
Although the numbers fluctuate year to year, Wicklow has consistently remained in the upper tier of counties where badger removal forms a major part of the TB eradication strategy.
The five-year totals show Wicklow East and West together accounting for 1,265 badgers culled since 2021. Wicklow’s sustained figures reflect the county’s well documented TB pressures. Councillors have argued that the county’s situation is out of step with national averages and needs to be properly addressed.
In his written reply, Minister Heydon said the Department operates two main wildlife control strategies as part of the bovine TB eradication programme: removal and vaccination. These measures are deployed in areas where epidemiological links have been established between badgers and cattle TB breakdowns.
He said the approach is informed by scientific research and veterinary expertise and is designed to target both wildlife‑to‑cattle and cattle‑to‑cattle transmission.
The minister pointed to the Bovine TB Action Plan, launched in September 2025, which sets out five measures and 30 actions aimed at resetting the national programme. Among the measures is a commitment to reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of TB.
A key action under that heading is the introduction of a Test Vaccinate Remove system for badgers. Under this model, only healthy badgers are vaccinated, while infected animals are removed. The minister said this would improve the effectiveness of the wildlife programme and ensure a more targeted approach.
Previous Departmental mapping and ecological studies have shown higher badger populations in the eastern half of the county, which aligns with the consistently higher cull figures recorded in Wicklow East. The Department has also confirmed TB in deer in Wicklow in recent years, adding another layer to the challenge.
The figures released to Deputy Whitmore provide a detailed snapshot of how the Department has responded to those risks. While culling remains a significant part of the programme, the shift towards targeted vaccination is expected to change the balance of interventions in the coming years.
The data also arrives at a time when local representatives have argued that the county’s situation warrants additional measures, including more intensive deer management.
The Department has resisted calls for county specific deer culls, but the badger figures underline the level of wildlife related intervention already taking place.