THE snaring and shooting of pregnant and lactating badgers has exposed the Department of Agriculture to criticism.
Animal welfare groups claim badger cubs are subjected to needless suffering by the early starting of badger eradication projects in counties Kilkenny and Wexford.
Unweaned cubs are starving to death in their setts while their mothers are trapped in snares placed near sett entrances, said Ms Angela Tinney, spokeswoman for Badgerwatch Ireland.
Female badgers give birth in February. Cubs become independent in September but until then are wholly dependent on their mothers.
Ms Tinney attacked the Department of Agriculture, saying its methods of trapping and killing badgers were cruel and inhumane.
In response, Mr Michael Sheridan, a senior veterinary inspector with the Department, said no badgers were subjected to needless cruelty.
The snares were designed to hold the badgers until they were humanely destroyed, said Mr Sheridan.
However, Mr Willie Delaney of Wexford Badgerwatch, described snaring as an indiscriminate way of trapping animals.
"Wild animals trapped in snares often chew their legs off while attempting to escape," said Mr Delaney.
February, the start of the badger breeding season, was not an appropriate time to cull female animals ready to give birth, he said.
Over 4,000 badgers are expected to be trapped by the Department of Agriculture in 1996.
Although badgers are fully protected under the 1976 Wildlife Act, the Wildlife Service may grant licences to destroy badgers under certain circumstances.
It is understood the Department of Agriculture obtained permission from the Wildlife Service to operate a badger eradication programme last year.