Car Hits Feral Pig In The Forest Of Dean UK

The ever increasing population of feral pigs across the UK are a hazard motorists should be aware of. Bikers and drivers of small cars don't stand much chance against these creatures.

With no natural predators, high levels of reproduction and ideal habitat for food and shelter the current population growth may continue until the population density in the core reaches a level whereby the population starts to self-regulate through limited food resources. It is speculated that this may start to occur when the boar population of the public forest estate in the Dean starts to approach 10,000 animals. As the density of animals in the core of the Forest goes up, the population pressure also pushes the boar out into an ever widening ring of surrounding land.

www.forestryengland.uk...

The 18-stone boar walked off fine after the violent impact, but the car's bumper was destroyed. The huge damage caused by the impact with the animal is worth about £5,000.

www.dailymail.co.uk...

The big males can be heavier than 18 stone. Take care driving through the Forest Of Dean and other parts of the UK where these feral pigs have been released by ignorant rewilders, or have escaped from careless farmers.

Just got up and walked away. Like Looney Tunes.

Re-wilders, is that like the people here in the US that think we need wolves and mountain lions back?
Looks like it's time to bring back the age old tradition of the boar hunt.
Didn't you guys used to use lances to take them down?

a reply to: Zeropinion

Didn't you guys used to use lances to take them down?

Yeah, but we used to get sweaty in the full Health and Safety suit of armour.

www.flickr.com...

Are they feral pigs, or wild boar? That looked like a boar to me. Sadly, many animals are killed in the UK that are big enough to be noticed - deer and badgers, for example.

There does seem to be a problem in some places with an over abundance of wild boar, or feral pigs, but whether the problem is contrived, or real is a different matter. My next door neighbour's perfect lawn is his pride and joy (sad I know) and he hates badgers because they sometimes root around - he wants them shot out of hand. I think he needs to leave the countryside if badgers cause him concern, or be a little more tolerant of nature.

Anyway, if the pigs/boar are being a nuisance then there should be controls in place, including shooting. I am sure local pubs would find customers for local roast boar.

a reply to: paraphi

The controls aren't working, largely because pigs are clever.

a reply to: Kester

Well ... modern body armor is much lighter, let the true purests stick with the steel stuff.
Sounds like fun.

a reply to: Zeropinion

You've got a point. Seems like the dogs are already catered for. razorbackoutfitters.com...

a reply to: paraphi

Are they feral pigs, or wild boar?

The feral wild boar in the Forest of Dean originate from farm bred wild boar, and as such differ from their truly native cousins in other parts of Europe. The two outcomes of this domestic breeding is that the animals are less nervous of people, and they are more productive. Average litter sizes in the Dean are between 6 and 10 piglets, nearly twice that of their continental cousins. With few natural predators, plenty of food and shelter early survival rates for the piglets is thought to be high. Research evidence also shows that some of the Dean’s wild boar are reaching sexual maturity in their first year. All of these factors contribute to the substantial annual population growth that has been recorded in the Forest in recent years.

www.forestryengland.uk...

They're crossed with Tamworth and other domestic pigs. They grow much bigger than actual wild boar and are not 'wild' in that they are not as elusive, often almost completely tame. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2021942/Forest-Dean-boars-lovable-piggies-eat-tourists-hands.html

Research for an earlier thread confirmed the big males occasionally become man-eaters. There's fun coming in the future.

a reply to: Kester

Lol, there we go, ancient tradition with a modern touch, nice.
There was a reason our ancestors hunted certain species to the brink of extinction.
Wolves are becoming a problem around here again. You aren't supposed to but I know a few of the boys are taking the matter into their own hands.
Grizzlies have made a big come back as well as cougars, the elk heards have paid a heavy price.