The hunting season is drawing to a close, so our “protected” Irish Hare will hopefully be able to relax until the madness resumes next September. In the past few days video footage of a harrier hunt that took place on the outskirts of Ennis, County Clare, has elicited a huge response on Facebook. Have a look… A woman driver filmed an exhausted hare slowly hopping through a gateway as his pursuers drew near. She also filmed the baying pack as it emerged over the crest of a hill, closing in on the distressed hare. Though the hare in the footage appears to have escaped, the dogs then proceed to wander off in all directions, spreading out along public roads and entering private property. Harrier packs are trained to chase and kill hares. Unlike coursing greyhounds, which hunt by sight and are prized for their speed, harriers are bred for stamina...the idea being to wear down the hare until fatigue delivers it to the dogs. If caught, the animal is torn to pieces by the pack. Some hares die of fright from massive heart attacks before the dogs even make contact. This form of hunting has no “pest control” value- the Irish Hare poses no threat to anyone or anything- the sole purpose of the exercise being human recreation. Aside from the cruelty involved, there are public safety issues and the film clip shows hounds completely out of control. The woman who obtained the footage can be heard remonstrating with the hunt master about the dogs being a danger on the public roads. The hare is gentle and inoffensive, a jewel in the crown of our wildlife heritage. As such it deserves a better deal under Irish law. It’s time we removed the exemptions to its protected status that allow humans to harry, torture and kill it for “sport.”