The Department of Agriculture has tendered for the provision of approximately 200 suitably trained and skilled operatives to assist with badger removals, vaccinations and surveying under the TB eradication programme.

The operatives will be responsible for setting and then inspecting restraints that have been laid out. They will also have responsibility for the dispatch or release of badgers from restraints, depending on the wildlife management measures of a particular area and the microchipping status of restrained badgers.

Other duties of the contracted personnel include scoring badger activity and surveying setts to class them as active or inactive. The contracted services are to be generally required between September and June, but some duties may be required throughout the whole year.

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The tender documents stated that entities applying for the contract must have manpower capable of capturing an estimated 5,000 to 20,000 badgers each year, with the flexibility to deal with seasonal variations in the activity and locations involved. The contractor is to ensure that those undertaking the duties set out are equipped with a suitable rifle and ammunition, while the Department is to issue other required materials such as restraints, microchip scanners and vaccine test kits.

The tender closed to applications on 6 March.