Animal encounter ?

[Gross]

Don't feel so guilty about the buzzard exclusion zone at BOC last year now

[Big Jon]

"Ciaran Nelson of the RSPB said that it was very rare to see a spate of buzzard attacks.
"These are the only incidents of buzzards attacking humans we have heard of in the last year, so to have two in such a short period is exceptionally unusual," he said."

Shows how little the RSPB know about buzzard attacks - I've had 2 and have heard of at least one other a couple of years ago near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. I guess most people don't bother reporting it - perhaps the RSPB should get out more often into woods and experience reality!

[Ravinous]

They might only have non-bird enthusiasts working in the office though who never go out into the field.

[AndyC]

Do I hear a reference to BOF HQ?

Not that I do not personally respect administrators that don't orienteer (on the other hand I'd have a had a go once or twice - as I suspect they may have)

[frog]

We had a competitor chased by a wild boar at our local event in Perth today. It's an area we use alot and where we have permanent markers and is just near a housing estate. Alot of dog walkers use the area. We had an informal event with bbq there today and it was hot and sunny !
We've never had any animal encounters there and writing the risk assessment is usually a formality.
1 guy came back looking very stressed having been chased for 100m by a large black pig with tusks. He managed to lose it in the undergrowth. It sounded a bit bizarre when he mentioned it but then someone else saw a large pig in the distance and another competitor saw a family of 4 pigs and piglets. Most competitors were out when the pig was reported. Later competitors were warned and 1 saw pig footprints and decided to give that area a miss.
I reported it to the police and it was thought there was a pig farm near by and googling it I see that there is a nearby wild boar farm so presume a family has escaped.

[andypat]

1 guy came back looking very stressed having been chased for 100m by a large black pig with tusks.

What was his time for the 100m?

[denzil53]

Its being reported that a hungry and unfriendly 7 foot boa-constrictor has disappeared in Ipswich.

Makes a change from muntjac and adders.

I was watering the garden the other day when a 3 foot adder slithered into view. I've been all over and never seen one - now they're coming looking for me . . .

[frog]

Pig story on our website here http://www.computing.dundee.ac.uk/staff ... 240711.asp

I spoke to the farmer of the wild boar farm and he said all pigs were present and correct when he checked them at 4pm after the police contacted him. The only one that sometimes escapes (apparently wild boar can jump fences and travel a mile in 5 minutes) is a sow with her piglets. He said all his were very tame and more likely to run away from rather than towards people.
Gerry was very definite about the pig he saw having tusks and heading for him though so there may be a really wild pig lurking in the woods on the outskirts of Perth!