Barry from the USA writes
I can't believe that Wild Boar had been introduced into the UK when you see the damage they have caused in the Southern United States. They have taken over everywhere from Texas to Florida and are causing havoc with people being injured and their gardens tore up. Over a year wild baor can have 3 litters of 6-8 piglets which multiply at an alarming rate.
The situation in the States has got out of control to the point that anybody anytime can shoot as many as they choose. The government is actually thinking about introducing a 50$ reward for everyone shot as they have become a menace. I work with guys who hunt wildboar in the states and they tell me that they have become a menace and their numbers are increasing at an astonishing rate. The wild boar in the States have become very aggressive as some nutcase introduced Euro Asian wild boar into the States. These big 700pound wild boar are virtually indestructible and can run at 30mph. The people I know that hunt wild boar tell me that it takes 5 rounds with a high power rifle to kill them and that a shotgun is useless against them.
There was a program on TV in the states where 1 actually entered a house and attacked the guy sitting on his chair.
I hope who ever introduced these are aware of the problems they can cause to people and their property, as it is only a matter of time before they multiply and become a pest.
Regards,
Barry Addison
/ 
Kelvin from Germany writes
Like others whose letters have been published I too am an ex-pat living in Germany, leaving the UK (as a resident at least) at the end of the “cold-war”.
A word of caution!
Boar can be dangerous under certain circumstances, so please don’t underestimate the fact. These animals are on a par with man’s best friend talent-wise. People on the continent have learned to live with this, because in general, they have accepted the countryside does not belong to us humans but to the animals – let’s be honest, most of us wouldn’t want them in our living rooms so we should show respect when we are in theirs.
The great thing is that nearly all wild game flee or give humans (including their dogs) a wide birth. If they have lost their shyness of humans they become at least (hopefully) only pestilent.
There are over 3 million Boars estimated in Germany and only 240,000 hunters and they are having a problem getting the numbers back down.
The graphic below shows the number of Boar shot per year.
In Germany things are very susceptible to regulation and hunting is one of them. After becoming a licensed Hunter (Jagdschein), I was allowed to go hunting on invitation before I “leased” my own hunting estate (Jagdrevier). Nearly every km² is regulated as to who has the right to hunt. This I personally find is as near to a perfect solution as one can get. Not wanting to make this too complicated as any European Country Laws can be, suffice to say – whoever has the right to hunt (through ownership or lease) also carries the burden of damage and husbandry.
Learn from mistakes made of the Continent!
Said very generally, by ensuring that some things happen early enough like:
1. Husbandry
a. Geographical Responsibility for “spotting” and counting Boar
b. Calculating how many Boar the country area can support
c. Define Human no-go areas so that the Boar and other game can be at peace with the world, they are not here for our amusement
2. Landowners must either lease or execute the right to Hunt
a. The person with the right to hunt must ensure the number of Boar do not exceed the supportable number
b. Reporting diseased animals and taking action immediately
c. Do not allow Boar Hunting with small calibre weapons
They are wonderful animals; the British Wild Boar site can go a long way in informing the public and supporting the Wild Boar already in Britain. Fact is they are very fertile mammals have no natural enemies in the UK and the winters are not hard. My personal view is when there are enough, one should be prepared to Hunt them; contraception is very costly, is indiscriminate and prevents the use of this extremely high quality meat in the food chain. Using the financial benefits of meat sales to husband the Boar and other game has obvious advantages.
I hope I haven’t upset too many people but I don’t like to humanise the “law of the jungle”, the Boar live by it?
Kelvin J Williams
/ Heidi from London writes
We, my father and I, stumbled on your website when we tried to find out why the 'wild boar' has not yet been re-introduced to Britain, as surely it should not be difficult to do so. Wild boars are not so choosy with their habitat; they are shy, yes, but not so shy, that they would move out of an area where hikers, cyclists and alike may be seen, hence they don't need the pristine wilderness. Surely Britain has plenty areas like that? (Living myself in London, the Epping forest springs to my mind.)
We know this as there are plenty wild boars in the woodlands close by to my home town of Karlsruhe in South West Germany. I never saw anything but their traces when rooting, but my father, who commutes by bike through the woods, has spotted the pigs themselves as well. Yes, he had one too close an encounter when he happened upon a whole herd in the dark. The first ones crossed the path, then the rest of the herd hesitated, but finally decided that they rather be seen than separated and belatedly rushed blindly across, running straight in front of his bike. But such behaviour happens with deer as well, yet I've heard no suggestions to kill e.g. the deer in Richmond park, because some may cross unexpectedly before a car.
To the best of my knowledge, there are no severe conflicts between people and boar here around, none at least that would make it even into the local newspaper. There is farmland here, commuter communities with gardens and bins, the lot. I'm amazed why there is so little research done into the most obvious topic: How do our neighbours do it? There is a large pool of experience available, though it might no be so well-documented in a scientific way. It may be more easily found in the text books for forrestry, as boar management will be part of a forresters job in most areas of Germany. Local forestry administration of knowm boar populations surely would be happy to share their experiences.
What I do know something about is the special case of the wild boars in the Grunewald in Berlin. That particular woodland is divided by a motorway and a peculiar difference has been observed between the two populations of this wood: whereas on one side, the boars took to begging, waiting on the parking lots for tourists and visitors to supplement their diet, the other population remained shy and rarely seen. The begging pigs do have habits like other beggars as well, some being rather demanding and yes, there have been problems. But to my mind it shows one thing: different boar populations have different 'cultures', learn different modes of behaviour. Your website reports nocturnal and diurnal communities, depending on their experiences. Hence it seems common sense to me, to "teach" boar communities who loose any shyness, as this is no good for neither beast nor people. Not being an expert, I would have thought that even very limited hunting would have a considerable impact on the behaviour of the herd.
Complaints like the one from Jonathan in France (see letters and emails), who struggles with unwanted boars on his verandah, are not necessary. That is taking the love for the wild too far. After all, I'd love to see the Wild Boar return in larger numbers, not to domesticate it. That would be easy to do: it was one of my childhood pleasures to visit a nearby wild boar enclosure, which is in the same woods, where boars also live in the wild. There the boars would wait to be fed by visitors, especially in winter and spring. In spring they had piglets, which were just soooo cute and fun to watch. There did not seem to be much of inherent shyness to them, the shying away is learned, as much as the approach for food.
All the best to British Wild Boar. If Germany can live mostly in peace with thousands of them, surely you can get along with a few hundred?
Kind regards,
Heidi Pintschovius
(orignially from Karlsruhe, Germany, currently living in London)
David from the Forest of Dean writes
I would like to add a bit about the dog that was killed [Cara, the greyhound] - because I was there! The local rag says much that you do, in other words we are led to believe the dog was acting like anyone else's dog would, and it was savaged to the point of no return due to no fault of the dog or the owner....well...
I was on a walk with my dogs when a FC ranger pulled up and asked me to look out for Cara (the dog in question) as she was lost. Her owner was in tears back in the car park at Beechenhurst about a mile away. Obviously the dog had been lost for some time. After he left me I became aware of dog barking loudly in the conifer plantation right next to me. I knew immediately what was happening - the dog had scented down a boar! I called for the dog repeatedly, and would have run towards the dog had it not been for my elderly dogs being unable to walk into the woodland in question. The dog barked incessantly and aggressively for about 15 minutes until eventually the predictable finale of a high pitched squeel. I knew the dog had been attacked. I returned back to my car in the hope of telephoning the FC but I met back up with a birdwatcher who I set off on my walk with (I can supply the name), who informed me about the incident (not knowing I already knew). I asked about the dog which he saw and told me its injuries didn't look serious. The owner was with the dog and they were off to the vet for a check over. The next day the local rag informed us all the dog was killed by a boar rather than the dog attacking the boar with the inevitable consequence. No mention of the dog returning to the owner seemingly well.
Make of it what you will, but not so straightforward as the press have reported. The dog was attacking the wild boar, not the contrary as we are led to believe. I haven't been to the rags about this - what's the point? People here have made their mind up one way or the other.
All the best,
David
www.djsphotography.co.uk
Damien from the UK writes
" My family are farmers in West Sussex. Over the past few years I have started to take a great interest in Wild Boar in the UK and have only recently discovered your page for them.
I totally support re-introduction programmes and more in your case supporting the Wild Boar that are already living free. After there absence of roughly 300 years, I personally feel they should pick up where they left off. They are a great credit to the nature of the countryside and whats more, them being native, the eco-system can benefit too. I also totally support for the Wild Boar to be given status like deer in regards to law and consavation etc.
I also hunt deer, mainly due to there sheer numbers and amount of damage. In regards to the Wild Boar, yes I feel they could be hunted, hence they should have a "status" and protection from the law in regards to calibre and bullet weight as well as regards to Sows and their piglets. Hunting them myself is not my cup of tea. I would sooner see them flourish.
Regards
Damien
'Concerned citizens' from the UK write
"We were on horse-back going through bridleways near the A65 in Lancashire. We first noticed the smell of pigs which I know was pigs because I have some at home. But then I noticed that the smell was too strong and even the horses started acting up. I am very concerned about these BEASTS which could be dangerous to the general public who are using this area as a walk way. I would be very grateful if you could inform me if wild boar could possibly be in this area."
Your sincerely,
Concerned citizens
John from the UK writes
"We have made many journey's down to the Forest of Dean in search of the secretive wild boar. In these journey's we have seen so much wildlife. But our main interest is the wild boar. Our first encounter was quite scary. It was May and we were walking around when we herd what sounded like piglets so Mark and I walked towards the noise and suddenly there was a crashing through the bushes about 10 feet in front of us, then it stopped and we slowly walked backwards then the sow just disappeared (we know now never go near piglets and stay on the paths in the spring months).
The Forest of Dean wild boar photographed on John and Mark's trip to the Dean. (© Mark Searle, reproduced with permission)
After the trip we were already planning our second trip which we concentrated on Symonds Yat. We found some signs in the day, then we thought we would walk through there in the dark with our high powered torches. We spotted more wildlife using this method than any other even to the present day. And yes we spotted a big male on the side of the exit road, he let us look at him for about 30 seconds then he just turned around and walk off into the tree line.
We had many other trips and we kept drawing blanks until last Saturday when we were walking by Mallards Pike in the day time and we spotted a big male on a hill just looking at us. Mark had his camera around his neck and got a lovely picture of him.
All I wanted to say is how wonderful it is to have wild boar in Britain (roaming free) and also if you have any tips for us on observing them, methods or locations".
Many thanks
John Hodson
Frankly I think the reintroduction of a historically native species is a first rate idea. But then what would I know, I only have an intimate knowledge of the countryside gained over a life time spend living and working in it. Which naturally pales in to obscurity when compared to some city based anti wild boar, pro political correctness, and anti common sense type, so lets make sure the wild boar have a chance to be wild once more, as for any Governmental objections to re introduction, why not try telling those in Government that its possible to introduce a massive tax on Wild-boar-hunting, the lure of more public money to waste on their endless stream of useless failed policies and hopeless projects, will know doubt swing it in favour of re introduction nation-wide. However if that does work, try telling them no-one in the UK with the express exception of some tiny obscure ethnic minority group that know ones ever heard of wants wild boar to be reintroduced, then you can bet they will re introduce them on mass to the countryside ! Just imagine your dealing with a difficult toddler, ask them not to do it, and they will do the opposite." yours, Mr R Nicholson. We both are already planning another trip becase we we so taken in by them. I have recently returned from a golfing holiday in France, the Vendee region. I was amazed to see the damage done on two of the courses I played by wild boar, some tees and greens were unplayable. I think the french name is Sanglier or similar. I hope they can be contained in England otherwise I fear for some ofour golf facilities. "I have found the British wild boar site quite by chance, and am very pleased to see that finally I see for the most part the truth written about these animals. Having just found the site I have not looked at everything but was just busting to write a few comments of my own which may, or may not be covered somewhere on the site.Unfortunately I live in an area where wild boar have not migrated to yet, but I live in hopes. I am a Stalker and have managed populations of Deer in and around the area I live (Oxfordshire). During my thirty five years of stalking I have on numerous occasions been invited to Germany to shoot wild boar by way of stalking, driven and from high seats I had a great mentor, the head of the Government forestry. When Boar began making it to the press after years of denial it read tothat these british boar must be different to the continental ones, you did not see dramatic notices making reference to KILLER pigs and there is no statistics for people being attacked by boar. Obviously there unfortunate incidents involving dogs of hunters but nobody demands the death penalty for all boar as hunters accept that sooner or later it may happen. My point is for the most part 'Jo Public' would have no idea that these animals existed if it were not for various publications most have no idea what species of deer we have and they are obviously farmore numerous. In any event a wild boar is far more switched on than any 'foot path walker' I have ever met, the noise they make would keep any self respecting boar well hidden. My feelings are this animal is here to stay yes there will be occasional road casualties the odd stray marauding dog go missing and certainly some crop and woodland damage but all this is manageable,what we need is for the animal to be recognized, the appropriate seasons for culling, minimum calibre rifles to be used etc. etc. and most important which animals to shoot, more harm will be done by theculling of the wrong animals in family groups than if they were not shot at all. Well thank you for reading, I await their arrival". I feel I should add that although councils like to pride themselves on being forward looking, our councils both local and district tend to look in the wrong direction most of the time. So I do not hold out any hopes of any move to encourage the little beasties to move up here unless it be by their own efforts, but one can always live in hope!" During the course of my duties I have beeen called to deal with wild boar, yes that means shooting them. The purpose of this email is to respond to some of the readers attitudes towards the wild boar and their comments. Firstly I must point out that it is illlegal to release wild boar into the countryside. That said I am pleased to see them and believe they have a place, but under control. Without controling their numbers by culling you can expect them to come to the attention of DEFRA who will call for eradication on a large scale, then you will have something to complain about. Those of us who enjoy our way of in the countryside are aware of the need to cull, without pheasant shooting there would be no pheasants, the number of deer shot by me involved in RTC is in excess of 50 per year in East Sussex alone, because there too many land owners who refuse to control them, saying "I like to see them" well so do I but the difference is I prefer a healthy deer population, and this will only come about by sellective shooting by professionals, same applies to wild boar. In short if you want to continue to see wild boar stop slagging us shooters off and give us your support, promote game meat in particular venison, its cheap and healthy. Tom Keightley. I have had them on my terrace at sunset when drinking wine. I have been so close as to be able to touch them! This Christmas because I have still not quite completed my boar fence one terrified animal got in at an uncompleted point. It was being chased by the local shepherds' German Shepherd dogs. I am not afraid of boar having chased dozens of the damn things off my property over the years. I chased this one as well and it eventually jumped another weak and uncompleted point in my defences. It caught its feet though and landed on its side. These are the ONLY animals I could kill. I hate them! The local hunters have sticker in their cars, ‘mort de sanglier!’. I agree as they cause so much damage, walls knocked down, paths destroyed, trees killed, crops and gardens TOTALLY and utterly trashed. Kill them because they will truly become urban monsters (foxes are just a mild nuisance to some and not at all to me). Boars are NOT afraid of people. Indeed they have learnt in France to live in villages because they cannot be shot! The above boar mentioned was one of three resting up during the day just 30 metres from our house. Jonathan Absalom There is another group a few miles away near Burrator but since they are known to be still there I would say that this is a separate group, possibly from one pregnant sow arriving here by some means earlier this year." a postscript from Donna a few days later. "The boar are now on both sides of the moorland roads and being black, are difficult to see at night. (Even though we're used to ponies, sheep and even a few cattle.)" Donna Baker I still cannot believe that myself and my family were within feet of one of them." Regards, Angela I regard the return of wild boar in the same way as i do the return of sea eagles and red kites. I'd be equally enthusiastic, to be honest, if beavers and wolves were returned here too! I take on board the valid arguments against it. They probably do carry bovine TB and other diseases, potentially acting as disease vectors, but should we eradicate any species for that reason? No, in my profession, we look to manage and work with risks, not to eliminate them. If we apply the risk-averse approach to wild boar and extend it to all animals which can transmit disease (to humans or livestock), our bird and mammal communities would be decimated! I don't believe any animal that has been native to Britain in historical times, with the possible exception of bears, poses any real danger to humans. Most large mammals will react defensively if they feel threatened or are surprised, but do we seek to exterminate the wildcat, which could easily kill a small child in such circumstances? No of course not. The wild boar may well change the ecology which we are used to seeing in our wild or rural areas, but the species with which it co-existed centuries ago are aall still there, so it would merely be reinstating the ecology back to its former state, not destroying a long-established ecosystem by introduction of an alien species. All it takes is to accept the wild boar back into the pantheon of our native wildlife, and to inform and educate the public about it, and they will rapidly be accepted by the vast majority of people, I am sure. Farmers whose crops are damaged can be compensated if the damage is extensive, but crop damage is caused by many animals and should in my opinion, be accepted by farmers as inevitable and normal. Most farms over-produce anyway, and I would be grad to see farms close down and woodland re-colonising former fields and hillsides, creating more wildlife habitat. At present, wild boar can be shot, poisoned, trapped, and hunters can use any weapon they wish on them with impunity. The boar do not officially exist, so have no protection, other than the animal cruelty laws. The sooner they obtain status equivalent to other wildlife the better. I would LOVE to see wild boar in my local woodlands, and I only hope that the wiild populations are growing such that they can start to link with each other, and thus get to the point where the government is forced to recognise them. My fear is that the government, and other agencies with an interest in repressing this species, are keeping quiet and waiting until someone steps on a mature adult and is gored, at which point they will take action to "protect the public", no doubt supported by the NFU, who would probably exterminate all wildlife if they could anyway. If any wild boar are reading this, I have a nice long garden, and they'd be welcome to root in my compost bins anytime."
Cheers, Brian. yours sincerely, Bob Hennessy, age 14.
I came back home and looked up boar and found your website. I think its great that wild boar are about but was shocked that Bedgebury had no signs up as I knew they could be dangerous but not quite how dangerous they could be particularly with young. Hundreds of people walk their dogs, ride their bikes including v young children on bikes, ride their hours and picnic there. I rang Bedgebury and got a rather sharp woman from the visitor centre saying they did not have wild boar in the forest and I should not be parking where I had parked. Anyway, basically I don't think she believed me and just said she would tell her manager. I rang my friend and she said she has lived there for 13 years and never heard of boar in the forest until this week and she has seen the three about three or four times and they drive her dogs mad by standing at the garden fence." What they are doing is natural, and unfortunately, your well tended gardens are a 'McDonalds' for the boar!One comment is 'I have come to detest the boar', How Daily Mail of you! Maybe they detest all of you NIMBY mail readers, and have come to detest you setting up home en provence, turning their rooting patches into swimming pools and lemon orchards or whatever it is that you do!We are living in a world where wildlife is slowly diminishing, we should embrace what we have around us, and if it is that much trouble to build a 6 foot wall around your property, maybe you should all relocate to somewhere else - but please check what animals live in the immeadiate vacinity! I have read through the comments and was awaiting someone to announce that they should all be shot, they were in the UK and that is why we have only a spattering of areas within the country that support boar populations.for gods sakes, people REALLY!!!!" Photos reproduced with kind permission. Photos reproduced with kind permission. They have broken garden water pipes in my garden creating streams and wallows; they have walked on my terrace in the warm twilight while I supped wine; they have (so many) surrounded my house.Holiday makers their children in play, neighbours for a while, call their children to bed at the twilight hour; 15 seconds (or was it 10?) after the shutters close the grunt of boar where the children were just playing! They know we are present but will come into our garden any way as soon as is dark. I have at this point moved forward towards them and switched on my torch. Below are two stripy ones, as easily as I type this I could have touched them, and 6 feet away is mum. They ran off. They are shy at present but like foxes became urban foxes for how long? My house is next too the Cevennes park so I expect to live and fight with nature but they are so destructive!" I personally feel that the return of the wild boar to britain is in itself a cause for great excitement and hope for the future with regards to wildlife. I feel that too much of our countryside and the wildlife it supports is disappearing too fast already and find it hard to understand how anyone can (with perhaps certain reservations) fail to be excited that an animal as interesting on the scale of the wild boar is making a comeback". Increasingly modern Britons experience an 'extinction of experience' when it comes to their natural heritage. Fewer wild creatures, less open space and degraded ecosystems have meant a less healthy environment, lost ties to our natural heritage and less romance, less intrigue and fewer opportunities for modern citizens to experience the wonder of being in a natural environment where magnificent and inspiring creatures such as European boar roam wild. This sense of wonder in our natural environment is not optional, it is essential to cultivate in a population ever more alientaed from its rural roots. If public interest and support for healthy environments, wild life and ecological restoration is to grow, we need to provide examples of possibility and ambitious plans that embrace charismatic large animals such as the boar in addition to the smaller butterflies and field mice of our country-side. Furthermore, In an age where wildlife restoration efforts are increasingly entagled in red tape and expense, we should embrace the opportunity to support and manage a restoration that has occurred in some degree despite us. The return of the wild boar can be a story of triumph of nature in an ever more threatened and sterile natural world. When nature triumphs like this we can all win." However there was always a good deal of anecdotal repartee: This Ranging from a friend's father having hit a large Male, in his VW Beetle (Both Boar and car died!) to casual sightings of the animalsscavenging refuse bins. Personally I have encountered the animals in controlled parks (even petting them) and was actively chased by a large animal, in the forest and after dark.This example chased myself and a friend some distance when we stumbled upon it, whilst collecting firewood!To the point: I feel the species deserves a second chance, increases 'bio.diversity' and is a species to be proud-of. I also shoot and although could could never aspire or afford to shoot at such a lofty quarry - If we can allow the witless Pheasant to colonise our countryside, introduce the Red-Legged Partridge, Rainbow Trout, Sika Deerand Muntjack, then why not the reintroduction of a former native species? Dangerous? Ever been to Richmond Park (Surrey)? There you will find a significant population of Red Deer.Red Deer Stags can often be seen, during the rutting season,a few meters away from parents with small children...A formidable beast indeed!Yet this wonderful place thrives and on the boundary of our capital.Most arguments against the wild boar are flawed - Even the potential for the cross infection of diseases, with domestic livestock could be overcome (or at least mitigated) by perhaps the selective inoculation of individuals and their re-release within populations? (No, I cannot medically expand on this, but understand this method is used to 'breed-out' some types of infection/diseases). The Wild Boars fairly high mortality is always going to limit the size of any UK population, particularly when coupled to legal control measures.The rest of Europe copes with the fascinating species - What are we so afraid of?" We own a house in Italy, to which we're shortly going to move fulltime. Wild boar are frequent visitors, and we see them often, bothon our land and on neighbouring roads. And when there's something theywant to eat on our land, we hear them every night. They can besurpisingly noisy eaters, making loud belches and farts in addition tothe noise of all the damage they're making. As well as the frequently reported trenches and holes, they causeparticular problems to dry stone walls and terracing, knocking outstones and sometimes major sections of wall, and creating pig slides forswift access down slopes that were previously vertical. They cause immense damage to fruit trees, and are capable of pullingdown branches up to six feet off the ground. These are of courseswiftly broken off, and any tree in fruit soon becomes surrounded by alitter of broken and dead branches. Low growing fruit is particularlyeasy meat. Strawberries are hoovered up together with their plants,and bunches of grapes disappear together with vine branches while postsand wires supporting the vines are often toppled over. While we're going to have to put up with this or else very expensivelyfence, and I would not support a new extinction of a naturally occurringpopulation, I would certainly not support their intentional artificialreintroduction into Britain. Rural gardening, and possibly suburban aswell, will become very much more difficult. Mole and rabbit damage aremere fleabites compared to the destruction that boar can wreak on allyour careful efforts to cultivate the land."to cultivate the land." when asking John for permission to print "....as I was on my run just now, I was reminded that there is far more danger in our forest and heath areas from the untrained dog population that regularly try to take a piece of me, than ever would be a problem from shy wild boar." followed by:
Anita from the UK writes
"My brother, who lives near Bratislava was attacked by a wild boar just before Christmas 2008 in Slovakia. It came into his garden, in a remote area of national park woodland, and was surprised by his dog which bayed at it, and danced around. When he came out to see what his dog was upset about, the boar charged him. He thinks the click of his camera alerted it. He swung around a tree and the boar stopped and chased him, turning and stopping its charge very quickly. It was screaming all the time. It was very frightening. Luckily he got himself and dog back safely into the house. He called for help and was very sad that the hunters who came killed the boar (with one shot through the eye at about 150m) as they said it was too dangerous to drive it back into the woods. I have seen photos – it was huge, black against the snow, and hairy.
Best wishes, Anita Mr Nicholson from Northumberland writes
"Before I begin, let me first say your site is superb, so well done and keep up the good work. Now to matters. Having spent most of my life in what we up here call 'Gods Country" (Rural North Northumberland) I am yet to hear of any Boar activity, or at least thats how its been to date. I am told on the ever accurate grape vine that there are plans afoot by a few of my hearty countrymen to reverse this situation. John and Mark (Forest of Dean) writes
"Me and my friend mark went to the forest of dean to see wild boar. We went late afternoon about 2 hours before dark. We looked around for obvious signs (rooting, prints). Then we walked along a well used path with our flash lights . Every now and then, as we were walking we turned our high powered tourches on and had a scan around. I turned my torch on and there was a big male boar, he trotted off into the tree line and stopped. Mark wanted to come off the path but after seeing the size of the one that just went into the trees, I said no !. Christopher from the UK writes:
"The most contentious aspect of the re-emergence of wild boar in the UK concerns the potential damage that could result to both domestic cultivation, (farmland, orchards, nurseries etc.) and the possible degradation of certain woodland habitats that may have evolved subsequent to the extinction of the original boar population.
Obviously some serious research and consultation needs to take place, but the authorities could perhaps make a start by examining the possibility of using some aspect of the agricultural budget to supplement or subsidise efficient fencing or enclosure for areas that might be proven to be at risk from any rise in the boar numbers . There is also the question of compensation for affected parties. It is worth examining how matters are handled on the continent, particularly in Germany and countries with a social and geographical environment similar to our own, where co-existence seems to be the norm, and problems are dealt with as they arise without undue polarisation of opinion.
A clearly defined policy of compensation would also be essential , if only it could be achieved without the usual miserly and carping bureaucratic spirit that all to often constitutes the extent of our dear rulers' response to such cases, particularly where the countryside is concerned." Lewis from the UK writes:
"I have been photographing a group of wild boar in the Forest of Dean for the last few weeks [October 2007] and I am now hooked on these amazing creatures. I have attached a couple of images I have taken as I thought they may be of interest, you are quite welcome to use these images on the site." 
(© Lewis Thompson) Geoff from the UK, after a visit to France 
, writes: Graham from the UK writes: Colin from the UK writes:
"I personally view the return of the wild boar as excellent and exciting news.Here in thetford in Norfolk we are surrounded by what I believe is the largest man made forest in in England, comprising some thousands of acres of mainly coniferous woodland, home to a great variety of wildlife including several species of deer, also red squirrels.Speaking only for myself, I would personally view the presence of wild boar as a huge bonus to the wildlife already present in our forest, and as our district and town council keep banging on about the many benefits of tourism we can only hope they would welcome such a notable addition to the local wildlife. Tom from the UK writes:
"In addition to running a pest control company I am also a professional deer manager. I am also on the call out list to attend injured deer, wild boar and other animals they are involved in road trafic collissions RTC, in addition I am also contracted to DEFRA for culling livetock in situations such as the foot and mouth outbreak. So you see I comment from experience. Jonathan writes from France:
"I own a house in the Cevennes in France. I have lived there for nearly twenty years. I cannot tell you much damage boar do! They destroy literally everything not made of solid concrete! I have recently spent £1000 and 6 weeks of intense manual labour to keep them from destroying our garden. When they ‘plough’ your land, in my experience it takes 10 years to recover! Donna from the UK writes:
"We have recently become aware of a group of about a dozen wild boar on the edge of Dartmoor near Yelverton, Devon.
These boar have only come to notice in the past 2/3 weeks. I assume they are a family from this year's breeding. I've seen them myself - one on the main Yelverton-Tavistock road and the whole group on the part of the moor where they are most active and where I walk each day. They're doing extensive damage to the grass, uprooting turf etc and making it dangerous to ride horses in the area, and are very close to a moorland road where they are quite likely to cause accidents at night. They have become quite a talking point locally! Angela from the UK writes:
"I went to Sardinia in September and stayed on the top of a mountain. One morning the beautiful lawn right next to our bedroom looked like it had been ploughed!! (Exactly like the picture on your website). We were subsequently told that wild boar still roamed about the countryside and mountains at night. I suddenly began to be interested in them (I had thought that they no longer existed!) so I was very interested in your website and found it very informative and enjoyable. Brian from the UK writes:
"As a person who, throughout my life, has loved Britain's countryside and wildlife, I am nothing short of thrilled at the prospect of the reintroduction, deliberate or otherwise, of any species which was formerly native to this land. Bob Hennessy (age 14) writes:
"I was so pleased to hear of the return of the long lost beast that onced walked on British soil. I was wondering if they are here to stay or will be exterminated again? These are wonderful, environmentally friendly animals which deserve to return to Britain after a long absence in the British Isles. I was also wondering that if they are here to stay, we need to change our British wildlife books or make a documentary program about their return. Well as their numbers increase, I hope they will not make London their home. There are about 1,000 wild boar living in the centre of Berlin. I realy like to see them back here again." Jane from Cranbrook writes:
"I have just come back from walking my two flat coat retrievers in Forestry Commission woodland near Bedgebury in Kent and saw three wild boar. When we parked the car, a family came up to us and told us not to go along a particular path as they had met a man who had been chased by a boar and 5 piglets. I therefore walked into the forest via another path. My 8 year old son was on his bike about 150 yards ahead of me and there ahead of him were three wild boar on the path just sauntering around. I called him back and called back my dogs who luckily had not seen them. We walked in the other direction.
Nick from the UK writes:
"Thought I would just have to put a mail over to you after reading with great contempt, some of the comments that people have written about wild boar.Crikey! They were in the south of France in the areas where your holiday homes were long before you decided ala 'A year in Provence' to uproot and move to another country! Just because you didn't think about asking about the wildlife in the area, before you relocated, why should the boar suffer?
Donna writes:
"Ithought you might like to see these photos of some wild boar babies I looked after whilst volunteering at an animal sanctuary in Italy. They were brought to the sanctuary when they were a few days old, having been found abandoned in the wild. They were hand reared by us, and are now living semi-wild in an area safe from hunters."
Shaun writes:
"Please find enclosed photos of Boar and piglets sighted in the Forest of Dean on 15 August 2005.It was a privilige to catch a look at these animals in their natural habitat. We hope that the Forestry Commission decide to allow them to stay in the forest and that we will be able to see them again."
Jonathan from southern France writes:
"I am by now an expert on these beasts! I hate them and would kill them instantly if legal! (No other animal mind) I have a house in southern France where there are hundreds of them in my own small village. There are probably more boar (aptly named) than people. A couple of hundred are shot each year but they breed faster. They also are learning to hide in the village where they are safe. I have had ½ of my garden trashed (1/2 acre) in just a few nights despite a fence. They eat all, worms, slugs, grass roots and nothing grows back for years. They destroy dry stone walls tossing with ease in a moment what took strong men days to create and struggled to lift. All the paths are ruined as stone and earth are trashed. I have seen them many times at twilight and dusk in the centre of the village churning green banks to mud. Colin from Thetford writes:
"No doubt you have already seen the article in the Daily Express today (3 jan 06) reporting on an escape/release ? of wild boar on a farm in exmoor. I was so angry at the slant the article took and the almost unbelievable dramatising and exaggeration of the reporting ,ie "snarling beasts,the elderly and children cowering indoors,attacking pets ,"packs" of wild boar chasing over fields and along narrow country lanes,etc that i have taken the liberty of sending an email to the express regarding their reporter and the quality of his/her reporting! Jake from Cheltenham writes:
"As a member of the public I am excited at the prospect of a return to Britain of the European Wild Boar. Not only is this an animal that belongs in our environment but it is one that connects us to our cultural as well as ecological heritage. As a boy in school I learned of Britain's historic relationship with the wild boar from King's hunting them for sport to images of early Britons sitting around fires eating wild boar for survival. Many of our nation's historic crests, architecture, paintings, story-tales and books feature the wild boar. This animal helped sustain and inspire past generations of Britons and can inspire future generations once again. Stephen from Hants writes:
"As youngsters we spent time in Northern Germany and rarely saw the animals (The nocturnal habits didn't help!). Dave from Italy (and Yorkshire) writes:
"I'd like to add to the comments from the Cevennes about damage caused bywild boar. Peter from Germany writes:
"I’m an ex-pat living and working in Germany and as such I have often had contact with Wild Boar but never so much as in the last 2 years at my new place of work. The firm is situated in an 80Ha enclosed area and we share this space with a herd of Wild Boar. Apart from the buildings the area is covered by woodland and heath, being a small firm there are few people here and the Boar are not as shy as they are where contact with people is more often, plus hunting in the area is forbidden due to the fact that rocket fuel is stored at a couple of locations within the compound in large tanks. I often see the Boar from my office window especially as the woodland that backs up on to the building is used as a daytime resting area. I often jog or bike through the compound and have had many close encounters with boars and every time but one the Boars have beaten a hasty retreat, the one exception being when a group of 15+ animals including piglets blocked the road I was on with my bike and my shouting and clapping from a distance of about 20m only resulted in curious glances, on this occasion I retreated waited 5 minutes until the road was clear and carried on. I find it a good thing that Wild Boar are once more running free in the UK and feel it should be encouraged, if handled sensibly Wild Boar are no danger to the public. I would further suggest bringing in a closed season for hunting and a compensation packet for farmers suffering from Wild Boar damage. As you have shown on your site people in Germany live quite well together with Wild Boar even though the population (both human and Boar) has increased greatly over the past few decades. I get the impression people who complain about the danger/damage from Wild Boar are probably the same people who complain about the countryside smelling of manure or Seagulls making too much noise at the seaside." Sharon from Gloucestershire writes:
"I am mailing to inform you of two large herds of 'Wild' Boar that areroaming freely on my land in Gloucestershire, near The Forest of Dean. These animals, I believe, were dropped off by someone approximately one month ago during a weekend. I am extremely concerned about the health and welfare of both myself and my horses as they have already caused some considerable damage to my land." Pete from Gloucestershire writes:
"I have seen wild Boar in Germany but this Monday at 5.30 pm I had the shockof my life to see 10+ wild boar just outside the forest of Dean,Gloucestershire. The group ran out in front of my car and proceeded to runfrom Verge to Verge on a very fast B road. I positioned my car to warn othervehicles and then spent 3-4 minutes watching them. Many cars had to swerveto avoid them. The group then wandered over and into a field via an opengate and I positioned my car in the Gateway to hopefully drive them awayfrom the road. I then watched them rummaging in the field for another minutebefore they eventually disappeared into the woodland. There seemed to be alot of young amongst the group.Simply a fantastic sighting!" Nick from Montgomery, Powys writes:
"Last Saturday evening my wife was staying with her parents on the edge of the Forest of Dean and at around 10pm took our aged half blind and stone deaf dog for a short walk. Whilst out the old dog became quite animated and then my wife saw 3 "pig like" creatures run across the path in front of her. She told me over the phone late that evening that she was sure they weren't badgers but didn't know what they were. Next morning she was in the bath when all hell broke out downstairs and my daughter Alys (10) began banging furiously on the bathroom door yelling something about wild boar in the garden. Jane ran downstairs and through the sitting room windows could plainly see a family group of 2 adults and 4 piglets digging up her father's immaculately tended lawn! Jane, her parents and our three children rushed out into the garden and Jane's father took some photos. By this time the neighbours had appeared and the boar obviously decided that it was getting too crowded and wandered back into the forest.Since then the press and television have been around and Jane's father was filmed for the news.I think it's great! Come on you boars!!!!!Boar co-exist with the modern world in mainland Europe so why can't they be left alone in England?"
Bruce from Vancouver, Canada writes:
"By all means there should be wild boar in England again. It will not do any harm at all. Well not as far as nature goes anyway. It was mentioned how they could cause disease amoung farm animals but there were wild boars in England 300 years ago. So what if they were still here? I mean all your domestic pigs are decendants from Wild boar anyway. Domestic Pigs can quite easy go back to being wild as they have in many countries such as The USA, Australia, New Zealand etc. And they won't stay looking like farm pigs, because over time they will slowly retrogress back to their natural condition appearance of European Wild Boars. And what's more, they will provide good game for hunters. So why not?". Paul from England writes:
"The bit about the damage done to British flora and fauna by wild boars must be a provocative joke inserted by someone - the whole countryside is being reduced to a barren, silent, chemically-soaked wasteland by the agriculural industry and someone has the cheek to talk about the damage a handful of piglets could do! As Victor Meldrew would say...I don't believe it!
As for rooting up bluebells...what about the yobs that dig up snowdrops, bluebells and many other native species to flog to people who have as little conscience as themselves about the whole business?
As for hunting...well, what is there to say? I suppose that there will always be 'people around who are amused by killing - scratch just under their skins and you'll find a Neanderthal. If numbers of wild boar did increase then a cull, at the proper time, by competent people would solve the problem. Remember: we are stewards, not here for long and ought to be acting responsibly for ALL of creation, not creating an unhealthy, unhappy imbalance". Fabrizio from Italy writes:
"I was concerned about the rather horrific descriptions in the article of The Independent of yesterday [Friend or foe? Wild boars are back after 400 years - Monday 26 Jan 2004], that claimed the boars danger to humans, in this part of the world we have a very large population of them, the number of recorded attacks is non-existant, the few that might be on record are 100% caused by hazardous behavior of sportsman or beaters, boar are far too intelligent to attack man! on the other hand they can be devastating to crops, but the damage to cereals is very limited, especially if the soil remains soft in summer, but they have a lot of acorns to feed on and this might not be the case over in the uk. Here we had serious problems on delicate crops like grapes, vegetables and other expensive specialized produces. In the woods they have a very beneficial effect by turning the soil round frequently and the only places where I saw damages was in enclosures with too high populations per acre."
Jim writes:
"We have a house in a hamlet in the Cevennes region of France, and for the past 22 years we have lived there during the boar hunting season. I, as a retired professional ecologist, walk in the woods extensively and have yet to see or even hear a wildboar. As you know, they are nocturnal and very shy. No one in the entire region has ever been attacked by a boar, and the only drama was, a few years ago, when one boar hunter was shot and killed accidentally by one of his fellows. A common event in the French hunting fraternity!Of the other two points - disease carriers, I am not competent to comment; damage to agriculture land strikes me as another bit of farmer paranoia based on no factual information. Final point - contrary to the impression given in the article, the boar population has delined in the past few years, but of course that might be peculiar to the Cevennes region."
Laurie from Liverpool writes:
"I am a suburbliver. As far as I am concerned any creature that is native to the BritishIsles should be left to live in it's natural habitat.The badger has been blamed for the spread of bovine tuberculosis, but thejury's verdict is not unanimous, God deliver us from experts." John from Surrey writes:
"I have recently returned from 11 years living in Malaysia. As a 6 day a week runner I would run perhaps 3-4 of those each week through jungle terrain and running with the wild boar always made for an exciting experience. They were a natural part of the environment and their tracks linked to their water holes would provide many of my running trails in the more impenetrable forests. Indeed on some long jungle hikes where disorientation set in, coming across a wild boar track was always a saviour since it allowed you to move more quickly which assisted in getting out of the forest. Although we were always cautious around them, we never experienced any problems; they were always keen to get out of your way. However when running in the same direction and at the same speed, we were more nervous though exhilarated. The wild boar provided a ready diet for the local tiger populations. And at the end of a hard day's run or a long day's hike, we commonly would head for a remote Chinese restaurant and order ourselves a big pot of wild boar curry and rice washed down with some chilled Tiger beers. I now run around the Surrey hills and will be keeping my eye out from now on for a local population. In fact I'm just off for a 10 miler right now." Jonathan from France first writes:
"Given the weeks (and hundreds of pounds) I have spent repairing boar damageto my property in France forgive me for not reading all of your site beforesending a comment. Having now read your site with its comments I amconcerned that it gives a very unbalanced view towards the perception ofboar.I am not frightened of boar, even of mum with young, nor are they a dangerto pets. They do however cause considerable damage to CULTIVATED land withits loads of roots and being well watered. A boar can easily dig a two footdeep wallow in one night. I know this to my cost. They are NOT frightened of people (except in the hunting season when theyvanish up into the mountains). My neighbours children were out playing intheir garden in the evening but within 30 seconds (I am quite serious here!)of them going indoors the boar, about 6, could be heard snuffling aroundwhere the children had been playing. They must have been in the gardenwaiting for quiet.That is the point to learn from; they may be retiring and shy at present inthe UK but being very intelligent animals they will soon learn to becomesuburban,"
"I own a house next to the Cevennes National park in Southern France. I havecome to detest boar. I have had them come onto my terrace of an evening andthey have systematically wrecked my garden including breaking wateringpipes. They are not afraid of people even thought 250 were shot last year inmy valley. This summer I heard them in my garden and went to investigate andchase the sods away. When I turned on my torch there were 3, Mum and twostripy babies. The babies were so close I could have touched them.When they do over your garden there is no plough (with follow up herbicide)that could do as good a job. The sods leave nothing, and I mean nothing, noroots, no seeds and so nothing will grow there for several years, they cleaneverything up and just leave pure loose soil. Even plants and seedsdeliberately planted are reluctant to grow!Their strength means that they can easily knock down heavy walls and fences.They can even break through thick wire fences. An electric fence seems towork but other than that fences need to be concreted in over their entirelength.Well that's my experience and anyone with a romantic idea about little wildpiggies can first come and help me repair the damage to my property. I willquite happily feed and board them free for a week!You have been warned." but then again, Frederick from Hertfordshire writes:
"As a professional Head game keeper of forty years standing and woodland manger on a eight thousand acre estate in Hertfordshire. I also have twenty years experience of hunting wild boar in germany. I hold a full German hunting license, and am fully conversant with all forms of management of wild boar and their relationship within German forestry management. Some of the old German foresters use to call them, Farther's of the forest, because of the good work the do, I have seen the damage they can reek on young plantations, normal cause, low control. Walk in any German forest and you will see the benefits that this wonderful animal as given the woodland environment, that far out weight the problems they cause, I have also to deal with the damage that deer can do, which can be far greater. In the new forest they release pigs at certain times of the year for their mutual benefit, why not wild boar. They are all over Europe so why not the UK. and the disease problem is manly caused though over population, both in wild and domestic pigs. I think they are the best thing to happen to British forest, where their is a distinct lack of good management with the demise of the forestry commission, their is now low woodland maintenance. Providing Wild Boar are controlled in a humane way, by trained persons, who understand the biology of wild boar and its ways, the placement of feeding points and high seats are important, and a good income can be derived form hunting them,as with roe deer, which where considered pest in my younger days. now try getting a lease, let alone the price. The problems come when people with guns that shoot sows, and leave piglets to starve, and die a slow death from small Caliber, rifles and shotguns, the wounded animals are very dangerous. Their should also be laws made ASAP. as to, minimum calibers for rifles .243 win is not the caliber for boar nothing below 7mm should be used, no shotguns to be used, making seasons for taking out the right animals at the right time of the year no females with young. all males, all 15 to 30 kilos juveniles.would be a big step forward the government as known about feral Boars for a long time, as anything been done, No. They then do not represent a danger to the public, they will move out of people way rather than have a confrontation. only wounded animals and sows with piglets are dangerous, in germany the public have access to the forest within certain rules such as all dogs on leads, no access after sundown and before sunup, and they have very little problems. common sense before public access. It would be great to see this old species back in Uk forests in other parts of the country, managed correctly, and respected, and not just a free- for- all for the ignorant and pot hunters. I belive that Wild Boar will be a benefit and ad to beauty of our woodlands and forest in years to come."