In addition to listening to us on RTÉ Radio One at 22:00 every Monday night, don't forget that you can also listen back to each of our programmes any time you like at www.rte.ie/mooney. There, you will find an extensive archive of past broadcasts, conveniently split into different topics and segments.

Tonight’s programme features wild badgers that have been frequenting a Dublin suburban garden. Though badgers are common and widespread across Ireland, they are generally surprisingly hard to see and usually go unnoticed.

To help you get to know these shy nocturnal mammals a little better, therefore, our suggestion from the Mooney Goes Wild archives this week is a report by wildlife enthusiast Tara Adcock. First broadcast in October 2019, it features Tara speaking to naturalist and author Declan Murphy about these fascinating animals at a sett in Co. Wicklow, where he had set up cameras to get a glimpse into the private lives of these secretive creatures.

To listen to this report from the Mooney Goes Wild archives, visit https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/21646267/

A Note from Mooney Goes Wild

At Mooney Goes Wild, we love celebrating Ireland’s incredible wildlife but we also want to remind our listeners that feeding wild animal, no matter how well-intentioned can sometimes do more harm than good. It may interfere with their natural behaviours and long term wellbeing.

Tonight, we share one person’s unique experience with wildlife. It’s a fascinating story, but we encourage everyone to enjoy nature respectfully and let wild animals stay wild.

On the trail of foraging foxes and backyard badgers!

Tonight’s episode of Mooney Goes Wild is a bit different. It’s always fun to put our experts to the test, so for tonight’s programme we decided to send Terry Flanagan and Niall Hatch off on a very special mission . . . hopefully not an impossible one.

· That mission (should they choose to accept it): to get up close and personal with not one but two elusive nocturnal Irish predators AND to report on their observations to Derek in real time.

· The predators in question: the Red Fox and the European Badger.

· The location: a suburban back garden in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.

· The owner of the garden: a very friendly man named Martin.

· The reason for choosing Martin’s garden: he puts out food specifically for his mammalian visitors at the same time each evening.

Would the quarry turn up on cue for Terry and Niall, causing great excitement . . . or would they simply be left drinking tea with Martin in his kitchen and filing the most boring report in the history of Mooney Goes Wild?

To find out what happened, you’ll have to listen to the programme (though a quick peek at the videos here might give the game away).

VIDEOS: Check out the first visitor to Martin's garden, followed by the lesser spotted second.

All clear? Good. This webpage will self-destruct in ten seconds.

For more information about the responsible feeding of foxes and other wild mammals in gardens, visit https://iwt.ie/foxes/

Looking forward to Back from the Brink

If you are keen to see more of Martin’s foxes and badgers, you are in luck. We have been filming their comings and goings for the forthcoming season of Back from the Brink, which will be all about urban wildlife.

Produced by RTÉ Cork, in partnership with fellow European Broadcasting Union members across Europe, and presented by Derek Mooney, it will showcase some of the most ambitious and successful efforts to rewild towns and cities by giving threatened species a helping hand.

In addition to our furry friends in Rathfarnham, the series will also feature a pair of Peregrine Falcons that nested this summer high on Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork city centre, along with a host of inspiring stories from all around Europe.

Back from the Brink will be broadcast on RTÉ One television later this year, so be sure to check back soon to get all of the transmission details.

While you are waiting, you can watch the previous series of Back from the Brink at https://www.rte.ie/player/series/back-from-the-brink/10001699-00-0000?epguid=IH10004820-24-0002

Public urged to look out for the invasive Asian Hornet

On Wednesday August 13th 2025, the National Parks and Wildlife Service confirmed the sighting of an Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina) in the Cork area.

While the Asian Hornet does not pose a significant threat to humans, it can "pose a significant threat to biodiversity in Ireland as even a single nest can devastate honeybee populations," according to the NPWS.

NPWS Director of International and EU Affairs Áinle Ní Bhríain described the species as "a bit like a wasp, about 2cm long, mostly black and brown, little orange face, orange tail and yellow legs - he looks like he's wearing long yellow socks."

Citizens are encouraged to report suspected Asian Hornets to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

For more information, you can check out this news article on RTÉ, or read the statement from the NPWS.