There have been a number of reported sightings of foxes around Leinster House. Photo: Getty
The storeroom after the fox had entered it
The foxes left a trail of damage behind
A “wild animal” that turned out to be a fox wreaked havoc in a Leinster House storeroom after decapitating a large bird on the lawn last year, internal correspondence has revealed.
An official at the Houses of the Oireachtas found toilet supplies had been destroyed in the room, and reported that the damage had likely been caused by a “wild animal” that had gained access through an adjacent yard.
Pest controllers were called to investigate the incident, and established that the animal had probably accessed the storeroom through gaps around a pipe leading from an area known as Fisheries Yard.
After inspecting the storeroom, the pest controllers concluded that the damage caused was inconsistent with a “common rodent infestation”, and believed that the intruder was more likely a fox.
The break-in on October 8 followed a number of reported incidents involving foxes on Leinster Lawn, which is located on the Merrion Square side of Leinster House.
On one occasion, a senior official found a decapitated bird on the lawn, as well as what appeared to be some entrails and feathers scattered over a large area.
The storeroom after the fox had entered it
The official said he had seen a fox in the same location earlier that week, and had been informed of further sightings. He asked if the Office of Public Works (OPW) could do something to “deter” the animals.
There have been a number of reported sightings of foxes around Leinster House. Photo: Getty
News in 90 Seconds, Wednesday, February 18
He sought a “combination of measures” from the state agency for this purpose, but there is no further correspondence indicating what, if any, steps were taken to prevent foxes from frequenting the area.
The immediate priority is to implement wildlife exclusion measure
Pest controllers reported that “specific physical indicators” in the storeroom at Leinster House suggested that the animal was a fox.
“Given the ongoing external fox activity observed near the facility, the immediate priority is to implement wildlife exclusion measures,” they added.
It was not the first time that a fox let itself into Government Buildings. In 2022, it was reported that one of the animals had gained entry and urinated “all over an office” in the Department of the Taoiseach.