On lead dog badly injured by a wild boar/domestic pig hybrid sow

[Tiddlypom]

Wild pig attacks dog causing serious injuries in Norfolk https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-66200666

Good grief. I'm wary enough of cows, but wild boar/domestic pig hybrids ! The dog was being walked on lead and in a public area as advised by the estate. The hybrid pigs are there as part of a rewilding project.

 

[Prancerpoos]

I may just have to wrap me and the dog up in cotton wool and hide under the stairs

 

[silv]

I find this quite bizarre, there are heaps of wild pigs on many of the properties where I ride, they never come near and tend to run away, even if they have young. Never heard of one attacking.

 

[planete]

The estate have admitted the sow had young and they will no longer put breeding sows in places accessible to the public.

 

[Time for Tea]

Very occasionally happens in the New Forest when the pigs are turned out in the autumn

 

[Time for Tea]

Thinking about it it wasn’t a dog that was attacked, but a jogger. Some years ago now.

 

[Clodagh]

Honestly I have rarely heard of anything so irresponsible and stupid. Poor dog owners. I hope the estate pays their vets bills, poor little dog.

 

[Clodagh]

And the more I think of it, what are the benefits of crossing boars with domestic pigs? I assume for the reality factor. Well, they got that in spades.

 

[silv]

And the more I think of it, what are the benefits of crossing boars with domestic pigs? I assume for the reality factor. Well, they got that in spades.

I agree, wild pigs do so much damage to farmland they are a real menace, I really hope these people know what they are doing.

 

[ArklePig]

Poor poor dog.

It seems every day I'm made aware of a new horrifying scenario that could unfold when walking my dog.

 

[Clodagh]

I agree, wild pigs do so much damage to farmland they are a real menace, I really hope these people know what they are doing.

I see pigs being good in a rewilding project but what’s wrong with an old domestic breed.

 

[palo1]

I think this was inevitable sadly. The general public seem to want it all ways; to have rewilding projects with unhandled and potentially dangerous wild or feral animals but still the rights to go where they please to enjoy the countryside in the normal ways. I guess it will give pause to thought about the reintroduction of other rewilded animals. I think the introduction of bison for example is potentially hugely irresponsible and this particular wild/feral sow must have been quite stressed to have attacked. But that is what wild/feral larger animals will and can do. I am interested in rewilding generally and we absolutely need to restore biodiversity in a number of ways but we will have to change our ideas about how we interact with/enjoy nature and the countryside if larger animals are to be part of that. Ursuala Von der Leyon's pony that was attacked by a wolf was, I think a provocation to thought and discussion on mainland Europe with very strong views expressed by all parties. I don't want to see wolves, for example, killed and this one seemed to be doing the job that predators are designed to; preying on an old animal, but clearly in the modern context that is going to be very difficult to manage all the time.

 

[AmyMay]

I don’t think the general public give a stuff about re-wilding.

 

[palo1]

I see pigs being good in a rewilding project but what’s wrong with an old domestic breed.

Yes, pigs are potentially useful but certainly not in large numbers or on sensitive grasslands where they can be hugely destructive! It's not always easy to tell pigs where they can and cannot go but domestic breeds would be easier to manage at least!

 

[Goldenstar]

I agree, wild pigs do so much damage to farmland they are a real menace, I really hope these people know what they are doing.

Pigs are amazing in the environment they transform it right through the food chain by massively increasing the numbers of invertebrates through their rooting activities .
It’s the stocking rate that’s important .
This is a very nasty thing to have happenEd .

BTW I have a problem with my E can’t work out how to stop it doing that .

 

[palo1]

I don’t think the general public give a stuff about re-wilding.

I think it is quite a popular idea and I do think that the general public like the idea of 'wilderness' though perhaps not the reality of the change in habits it would need. I have been reading a lot lately about the strain on national parks in particular locations where more and more people and organised groups want access and that same access is causing those areas and locations to degrade. There has been quite a lot of rumbling about the lines and lines of folk on Yr Wyddfa, Pen Y fan and other accessible 'wild' places this summer as well as the issues on Dartmoor etc. Things are changing really quickly and it's hard to maintain integrity of policy, intention and fairness to everyone.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I don't know anyone in these islands who really knows what rewilding is, never mind wants it. I only know about it because I have a lot of friends in the Netherlands and I remember all the posts about the starving animals.

 

[Cortez]

I don’t think the general public give a stuff about re-wilding.

That's an incredibly wide statement and assumes that you know "the general public" on a personal level. I am a member of said public and I give several stuffs. What most people don't know is anything about the practicalities of achieving true "wilderness". I don't think this is either practicable nor desirable, however facilitating the survival of wildlife is something I will do anything in my power to achieve.

 

[Clodagh]

I know people (my son) who are very pro rewilding. At least as a farmers son he also recognises the limitations.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Some people listen to the likes of Chris Packham talking about the reintroduction of various native species and like the idea but don't understand all that goes with it, including the necessary restrictions on public access. Neither do most people even begin to think about the ramifications about reintroducing apex predators into a highly populated island. There is very little truly wild, i.e. unfarmed land in UK, so people will butt up against wild animals much more readily here than in e.g. mainland Europe. It can't end well.

Eta, I am not sure that 'rewilding' and facilitating the survival of wildlife are necessarily the same.

 

[Goldenstar]

Rewilding is simply managing the natural environment to allow it to renew repair and manage its self with less intervention .
In practise it means completely different things in different places. It can be quite aggressive work to return streams and rivers to a more natural shape ( we been straightening them since we started tinkering ) and doing stuff like using beavers giving benefits like natural water storage and reduction of flood risk .
To managing grassland and woods together using pigs and wild type cattle breeds to help biodiversity.
And all points in between mossy.earth is a good place to look at all sort of rewilding schemes from the small like releasing water voles to the huge .
Often the debate gets bogged down in the difficult and probably impractical ideas like wolves and bears which have huge difficulties in a small overpopulated island .

 

[Clodagh]

Rewilding is simply managing the natural environment to allow it to renew repair and manage its self with less intervention .
In practise it means completely different things in different places. It can be quite aggressive work to return streams and rivers to a more natural shape ( we been straightening them since we started tinkering ) and doing stuff like using beavers giving benefits like natural water storage and reduction of flood risk .
To managing grassland and woods together using pigs and wild type cattle breeds to help biodiversity.
And all points in between mossy.earth is a good place to look at all sort of rewilding schemes from the small like releasing water voles to the huge .
Often the debate gets bogged down in the difficult and probably impractical ideas like wolves and bears which have huge difficulties in a small overpopulated island .

Completely right. Here we look at Dartmoor and you can see areas of rewilding will really help it, beavers being a good example.

 

[Cortez]

There is a vast difference between attempting to reintroduce bears and not mowing the lawn. One is entirely impractical in an overpopulated island and the other will give an appreciable benefit.

 

[Aperchristmas]

Rewilding is simply managing the natural environment to allow it to renew repair and manage its self with less intervention .
In practise it means completely different things in different places. It can be quite aggressive work to return streams and rivers to a more natural shape ( we been straightening them since we started tinkering ) and doing stuff like using beavers giving benefits like natural water storage and reduction of flood risk .
To managing grassland and woods together using pigs and wild type cattle breeds to help biodiversity.
And all points in between mossy.earth is a good place to look at all sort of rewilding schemes from the small like releasing water voles to the huge .
Often the debate gets bogged down in the difficult and probably impractical ideas like wolves and bears which have huge difficulties in a small overpopulated island .

I think it is quite a popular idea and I do think that the general public like the idea of 'wilderness' though perhaps not the reality of the change in habits it would need. I have been reading a lot lately about the strain on national parks in particular locations where more and more people and organised groups want access and that same access is causing those areas and locations to degrade. There has been quite a lot of rumbling about the lines and lines of folk on Yr Wyddfa, Pen Y fan and other accessible 'wild' places this summer as well as the issues on Dartmoor etc. Things are changing really quickly and it's hard to maintain integrity of policy, intention and fairness to everyone.

Agreed. I think the idea is popular but partly hampered by lack of knowledge of what wilderness actually is in the UK, mainly because we have pretty much zilch left. Most of our natural parks were deforested centuries ago and we are left with these beautiful open spaces that people love to see, but are pretty devoid of the native biodiversity that is supposed to be there. Getting support for reforesting national parks is quite difficult because people love the views, however it is neccessary.

I sadly agree that reintroducing wolves or bears is unrealistic - we are too crowded an island. There are parts of the highlands that could perhaps support a small pack of wolves, but can't see the shooting estates ever letting that happen - they can't even cope with a few birds of prey! But there are so many more things we can and must do to recreate habitat for our wildlife. We mustn't let this island become even more of a desert, barren of all life apart from us and millions of rats.

 

[Aperchristmas]

Agreed. I think the idea is popular but partly hampered by lack of knowledge of what wilderness actually is in the UK, mainly because we have pretty much zilch left. Most of our natural parks were deforested centuries ago and we are left with these beautiful open spaces that people love to see, but are pretty devoid of the native biodiversity that is supposed to be there. Getting support for reforesting national parks is quite difficult because people love the views, however it is neccessary.

I sadly agree that reintroducing wolves or bears is unrealistic - we are too crowded an island. There are parts of the highlands that could perhaps support a small pack of wolves, but can't see the shooting estates ever letting that happen - they can't even cope with a few birds of prey! But there are so many more things we can and must do to recreate habitat for our wildlife. We mustn't let this island become even more of a desert, barren of all life apart from us and millions of rats.

Following on from this, while I am very supportive of the farming industry, I find their approach to e.g. Dartmoor to be infuriating. Claiming that sheep have grazed on dartmoor all year round for centuries - absolute rubbish. It's only in the past 60 years or so that we have had hardy enough sheep to winter on uplands, previously they were all brought down to lowlands for winter. The year round grazing has really degraded Dartmoor's soil and plantlife and it won't recover until grazing stock is reduced. Obviously that would result in farmers losing money, and what else can they do? I realise it's a slightly impossible situation for them but we do have to find a solution.

 

[Thistle]

One of the gun dog training groups that I attend sometimes uses the West Acre estate near where this happened! I shall be very wary!

 

[Burnttoast]

I don't know anyone in these islands who really knows what rewilding is, never mind wants it. I only know about it because I have a lot of friends in the Netherlands and I remember all the posts about the starving animals.

What about all the people running rewilding projects? Don't they know about it? One of the ones local to me is Wild East, where the founders (landowners and farmers naturally, but they have to lead the way) have projects on their own estates but also run a campaign that anyone can sign up to where you agree to devote 20% of whatever's available to you (windowbox upwards) to nature. It's raising awareness and joining people up. You can look on their map and see who's doing what. They have everything from individuals to farmers, local councils, rugby clubs, churches. https://www.wildeast.co.uk/we-pledge#MapOfDreams

 

[palo1]

What about all the people running rewilding projects? Don't they know about it? One of the ones local to me is Wild East, where the founders (landowners and farmers naturally, but they have to lead the way) have projects on their own estates but also run a campaign that anyone can sign up to where you agree to devote 20% of whatever's available to you (windowbox upwards) to nature. It's raising awareness and joining people up. You can look on their map and see who's doing what. They have everything from individuals to farmers, local councils, rugby clubs, churches. https://www.wildeast.co.uk/we-pledge#MapOfDreams

I think rewilding covers such a vast spectrum of scenarios that it is difficult to pin down. Rewilding your lawn is very simple. Rewilding landscapes is far more complex and overlaid with all manner of cultural, logistical and other issues. I think rewilding has been a bit mis-sold tbh. I am in favour of the general principles and definitely would do anything I can to support the survival of wild species and environments but I don't think nearly enough has been said of the sacrifices that we MUST make to enable improved biodiversity and landscape level change. I know why that is obviously but I think it is really cynical 'insta' influenced ideology rather than nuts and bolts climate action. I have been on a safari and both OH and I agreed that we would rather pay to support that kind of landscape and NOT see the wild inhabitants than have the experience manufactured through a manipulated 'wilderness' or to risk losing species and landscapes for ever. But I think a great many people, if they invest emotionally in something like rewilding, want something in return. I think we should accept that what we get in return is an improved environment and possibly very little leisure or pleasure outcomes, yet those are the things that rewilding is relying on to support it economically (ie the argument that replacing farming with wilderness will result in income from tourism etc). I don't see that happening as if we have rewilding on the scale that some people suggest it is needed, it would not be enough of a novelty for people to put their money into it and it would probably not be ethical to have vast numbers of people trooping round an environment that is genuinely supposed to be self managing. I think it is difficult but there are much easier ways to make improvements to our environment than worrying about whether or not we can support wolves. Which I really don't think we can in the UK. Maybe people shouldn't be allowed to tarmac their driveways, use any weedkiller or pesticide, buy artificial grass for domestic purposes, cut hedges or grass at certain times of year etc. Maybe supermarket carparks should have to be permeable and their buildings covered in solar panels, maybe we should have far higher sanctions on the production and use of plastics etc. But then, those things would be massively unpopular lol!! I think many, many people want to have their cake and eat it...

 

[cobgoblin]

BTW I have a problem with my E can’t work out how to stop it doing that .

Try changing your keyboard.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I think rewilding covers such a vast spectrum of scenarios that it is difficult to pin down. Rewilding your lawn is very simple. Rewilding landscapes is far more complex and overlaid with all manner of cultural, logistical and other issues. I think rewilding has been a bit mis-sold tbh. I am in favour of the general principles and definitely would do anything I can to support the survival of wild species and environments but I don't think nearly enough has been said of the sacrifices that we MUST make to enable improved biodiversity and landscape level change. I know why that is obviously but I think it is really cynical 'insta' influenced ideology rather than nuts and bolts climate action. I have been on a safari and both OH and I agreed that we would rather pay to support that kind of landscape and NOT see the wild inhabitants than have the experience manufactured through a manipulated 'wilderness' or to risk losing species and landscapes for ever. But I think a great many people, if they invest emotionally in something like rewilding, want something in return. I think we should accept that what we get in return is an improved environment and possibly very little leisure or pleasure outcomes, yet those are the things that rewilding is relying on to support it economically (ie the argument that replacing farming with wilderness will result in income from tourism etc). I don't see that happening as if we have rewilding on the scale that some people suggest it is needed, it would not be enough of a novelty for people to put their money into it and it would probably not be ethical to have vast numbers of people trooping round an environment that is genuinely supposed to be self managing. I think it is difficult but there are much easier ways to make improvements to our environment than worrying about whether or not we can support wolves. Which I really don't think we can in the UK. Maybe people shouldn't be allowed to tarmac their driveways, use any weedkiller or pesticide, buy artificial grass for domestic purposes, cut hedges or grass at certain times of year etc. Maybe supermarket carparks should have to be permeable and their buildings covered in solar panels, maybe we should have far higher sanctions on the production and use of plastics etc. But then, those things would be massively unpopular lol!! I think many, many people want to have their cake and eat it...

I think many of the things mentioned in your last para are easily achievable and would go a long way towards helping the general public to become more familiar with a less 'tidy' local enviromnent, without being quite so worried about what the neighbours think about their unmowed lawn.