We will start with the wonderful, the way I like my wildlife - poetically beautiful, poised, serene. I like serene a lot. It was with great admiration that I watched this bird of prey who lives behind us. It was a display of rare cooperation that he sat on the neighbor's shed roof while I changed lenses twice to get him into focus. I thank you, bird, both for cooperating and then flying away without inspiring terror of any sort.
Not all my interaction with local wildlife is as soothing. You knew it had to happen didn't you? It came to pass finally that I came face to face with that fearsome beast - the wild boar. We were driving the other day when I noticed something galloping along the road in the ditch, whereupon I began to shout like a crazed woman wildboarwildboarwildboarwildboar! casually mentioned "Hey, y'all. Might that be a pleasant little critter of some sort? Boar perhaps?" Indeed it was.
We nearly blocked traffic while waiting for daughter to get the camera and crane her neck over me to snatch a shot. Its blurry. But it's undeniable proof. Wild boar exist. Right here. With tusks. And despite Wiki reassurances to the contrary, this purportedly noctural beast was truckin' down the road at FOUR PM. Why?? Why play with my mind this way, piggie? Do you not know that I already jump at every crunch of the forest floor certain a boar-ala-Grimm is running headlong to devour my babies? Til now my great consolation was that I was out during daytime, when all respectable wild pigs were fast asleep, far far away. That illusion is now shattered. I am left with repeating to myself, "They are more afraid of you, they are more afraid of you."
But I don't believe it.
Wild boar definitely do exist in Europe. My brother, his in-laws, and friends occasionally hunt the wild boar to help cull the population. My eldest daughters learned this when they visited a few years ago, http://catholicgeography.blogspot.com/2006/11/hunting-in-switzerland.html
Posted by: Christine | October 26, 2010 at 10:50 PM
LOL! By any chance, did you drink any coffee before you started driving? I'm just askin... Your Grimm reference makes me think of what else might just be lurking in the dark German woods...something old and...well, you kno ;o)
Posted by: Donna Marie | October 27, 2010 at 04:39 AM
that's funny - I'd be shouting "wildboar! wildboar!" too - have to catch it while its hot!
Posted by: maggie | October 27, 2010 at 05:37 AM
k this out Donna Marie. Thing is unlike other critters they actually do attack people. I don't worry much when everyone is on a bike. Its walking - particularly with the stroller - that wigs me out. I don't do well with scenarios in which I have no plan other than hopng it doesn't come up...
Posted by: Kim | October 27, 2010 at 07:18 AM
link would help ; D
http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2009-05/wild-boars-menace-germany-could-it-happen-here
Posted by: Kim | October 27, 2010 at 07:19 AM
And this little piggy cried "wee...wee...wee..." all the way home.
Posted by: My Boys' Teacher | October 27, 2010 at 08:04 PM
Yikes!! Looks like they should start hunting a bit more... I guess this puts a kink in the nature hikes! Are they afraid of dogs??
Posted by: Donna Marie | October 28, 2010 at 04:44 AM
Interesting! We just heard they have moved into our hunting land. This fact scares my children who used to be able to walk to and from their stands alone. It makes the men mad since wild boars are known to destroy the land, the turkey nests...Of course we also have confirmed sightings of three mountain lions, which scares my children even more.
Posted by: Jenny | October 29, 2010 at 12:58 PM