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invergarry wild boar
INVERGARRY’S WILD BOAR
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Iain Ferguson I was surprised to learn from a reader in Invergarry that wild boar are, if not commonplace, certainly roaming the woods around the area in increasing numbers.
Possibly, as I did, you also thought that wild boar, like wolves, were a thing of history in Scotland, stalked by kings and hunting parties for sport and food in the past?
However, I have discovered that they are clearly alive and well in many areas of Scotland, not just Invergarry.
It is believed these particular creatures are non-native and like so many other animals were brought in to be farmed but a few escaped into the wild. With no natural predators, they have multiplied and can cause disruption in the surrounding habitat.
The collective noun for a group of boar is a ‘singular’ apparently due to their solitary, untamed nature. It is this nature that appears to be the problem as they not only dig up farmland as they forage, but have also been fi nding their way into domestic gardens, where they leave a trail of destruction.
In a Sunday newspaper article, it was revealed wild boar have killed sheep, tipping them over, opening them up with their sharp tusks and eating the soft innards. It was also reported that one boar shot by a stalker, was eight feet long, with fi ve inch tusks and weighed 30 stone.
While they largely avoid human contact, concern has been expressed about the damage one of these animals could do to someone who takes it by surprise or accidentally makes it feel cornered, resulting in a charge and attack. While the latter has not happened, landowners and their stalkers have expressed concern that it does remain a real possibility for someone innocently walking through woodland or other areas where boar may be present. Given their speed, it could be hard to escape them and with their weight as well as sharp tusks severe injury could be infl icted. This is not written as a ‘scare’ story. We live in a rural area where walking in our beautiful outdoor environment is a regular pastime, so best to be aware of what wildlife may be around who are perhaps less timid than those we are used to seeing.
