Wild boar

[Mrs H]

Have you been watching Autumnwatch the last couple of nights - apparently there are thriving feral wild boar collonies in the Forest of Dean! Male wild boars can weigh 300lb and have tusks Although shy - they are quite capable of killing a man under certain circumstances - But the good news is they eat dogs for breakfast

I orienteer down there once or twice a month but have not seen any. But they showed what the foot prints are like so will look out for them now. the front bit is like a deer's cleft hoof but there is another toe print immediately behind on either side.

Has anyone seen any? (prints or animals)

[kedge]

I gather the advice on being confronted by angry wild boar in the forest is "You cannot outrun a wild boar - but they can't climb trees!"

[EddieH]

I have twice met wild boar - once competing a pairs event in Australia where they are reckoned to be the most dangerous animal on the land! My partner had been quite blase when I'd nearly trodden on a large snake - "It would put you in hospital but not kill you". When the wild boars with piglets errupted past us I watched in wonder then turned round to see my partner up a tree!

The other occasion was outside Forres where a female was trundling towards us on a path. We didn't wait to see if it meant no harm - we went straight over a fence. The animal cruised by unconcerned.

[Copepod]

Back in 1989, on the Overland Trail in Tasmania with a male Canadian I had only met a few days earlier, he was walking in front, as there was a long stretch of track parallel with the lake, so his not-so-good navigation wasn't a problem for a change. He stopped suddenly, having spotted a large mammal lying acrss the trail. "Is is a wild boar? Is it going to charge us?" I recognised it as a wombat, which bumbled off, in a usual unconcerned wombat-like manner. It was a lovely sight - the wombat, not the human, although he was OK, too.

[Cez]

I have seen a wild boar on a cycle ride in Oxfordshire, but never in the Forest of Dean.

I heard that the boar escaped from a wildlife centre!

[EddieH]

Another local wild boar story - An escaped male got into my local pig farm. They managed to get it into a metal truck with 2m high walls. It did a standing jump right out again - (they shot it).

[Mrs H]

So I guess that means you have to climb more than 2 metres up the tree

[redkite]

Looks like a good excuse to have an end of season Western Night League BBQ. Top of the menu : pig roast.

Talking of dangerous animals met a massive moose in the green stuff in Norway the other year. Don't know who was more suprised, me or the moose.

when on honeymoon in Zimbabwe a long time ago met a black Rhino in the deep bush. Luckily the wind was in the right direction. The wife has never forgiven us.

[Rich R]

I had a wild boar come hairing passed me within 5m only this summer on the last day of the French 5.

[grubby]

There are several wild bore who work in County hall, Cardiff

[Simon E]

I'm fairly certain I saw one during a race in the Chilterns.

But I'm afraid wild boar only made it in at number 8 in my Top 10 list of animal sightings at events.

[Roger]

I have seen a wild boar on a cycle ride in Oxfordshire, ...

Don't know why they have to cycle if they can outrun you anyway...

[Ravinous]

I have only ever only ever had dealings with Wild Boar once and it was whilst out Night O training in one of the many splendid areas around Brno, Czech Republic. My trusty training chum Zdenek and I were running a course together as you do on a winters eve. The terrain was quite open but brashed and sloping down. Z was on a parallel line 50 m to my left but behind me a bit so I couldnt really see him but I could hear him of course. Fairly suddenly, it was like he had decided to leg it towards me crashing over the brashings like a mad man possessed. I thought this a bit strange and by the time I could look to my left at the impending madman crashing towards me, the madman crashed past me a few meters away, like a mini rocket and headed off at a very impressive speed down the hill. It was indeed a Boar and not Z. I didnt really have to time to get worried or do anything, but it was pretty cool in any case.
My impression is that if you see one you are very lucky - as they will leg it away from you in most instances - on bikes or feet

[Kitch]

I'm fairly certain I saw one during a race in the Chilterns.

With a wild boar its more of a feeling than a seeing.

a very similar encounter to Ravinous - only in the daylight. The ground shakes the forest breaks and a brown blur streaks past.

I was running with Mr Musgrave so it wasn't easy to be sure it was a boar at first

[180 minute man]

Saw a wild boar piglet when walkng in the Pyrennes.

Looked really cute, but there was more rustling in the undegrowth, so continued ploddding uphill.

Two minutes later Philip shouted up that he had spotted it too.

I replied "Where's it's Mum?".......Hadn't seen him move that fast all day.