Bulls & Sucklar Cows along Waymarked Walking Trails in Ireland
A Guidance note from the National Trails Office / Irish Sports Council
Many waymarked walking trails around
the country go through open fields and farming areas. On some walking routes, walkers may on
occasion come into contact with farm animals including bulls and suckler cows.
The National Trails Office would encourage all trail management groups
to promote the following to trail users if there is a chance that they may come
into contact with bulls
and suckler cows on waymarked walking trails.
- When
walking through a field with animals always keep them in view. Don’t turn
your back on them.
- Do not
bring dogs into fields where there are farm animals.
- Carry a
walking stick through fields with animals.
- Be
prepared for cattle to react, and, where possible, walk carefully and
quietly around them - do not split up a clustered group and do not run.
- Should a
bull or cow come up very closely, turn round to face it. If necessary take
a couple of steps towards it, waving your arms and shouting firmly.
- Above all,
do not put yourself at risk. If you feel threatened, find another way
round, returning to the original path as soon as is possible.
- Remember
to leave gates as you find them (open or closed) when walking through
fields containing livestock.
- If you are
attacked or suffer a frightening incident, report this to the landowner,
trail management group/agency and the National Trails Office.
A walking
route should not be routed through lands with unpredictable and threatening
animals present. In a circumstance where there is a bull or suckler cows in a field where there is a waymarked
walking trail, the National Trails Office recommend a warning notice be erected
to notify trail users.
When the
National Trails Office report the presence of a bull or suckle cow along a walking
trail, as part of an annual inspection, it will report this as an important
maintenance issue. The recommended
remedial action should be undertaken as quickly as possible by the agency responsible
for the walking trail.
The
National Trails Office recommends that all trail management group’s work in
partnership with farmers and other stakeholders to ensure appropriate measures
are taken to inform trail users of the presence of livestock.
