Wild Boar meet Wild Woman

Subject: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 03:44 PM

Here's a story to cheer us up for the New Year - the germs of a sort of sequel to the Hound of the Baskervilles.

Woman, 80, saves pet dog from wild boar on Dartmoor:

Mrs Hamilton-Meikle was walking her dog, Bosun, at Buckland Monachorum, near Plymouth, on the edge of Dartmoor, when he vanished into gorse bushes. She said: "I heard a terrible screaming noise and I thought he had got into a fight with some other dogs. I rushed into the bushes and found three wild boar with Bosun lying down on the ground in front of them. They must have tossed him and were coming in to attack."

Mrs Hamilton-Meikle, of Plymouth, admitted she had been terrified, but had been determined to save her dog. She swung Bosun's lead around her head, which sent two of the boar scuttling away. But a male boar stood its ground, a metre from the pensioner.

She said: "The dog lead has a heavy metal clip so I swung it again and caught him on the nose. Then I picked up Bosun, turned around and walked out. Fortunately, the boar did not follow. It's the first time I've seen the boar, though I know a man who was chased up a tree by them. I only saw three, but locals say there are up to 15 around Buckland Monachorum."

That's the way to do it! I loved that slightly scornful touch - "I know a man who was chased up a tree by them". I bet she actually said "I know a man who was chased up a tree by them".

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 03:49 PM

Well, it's a bit of a variation on Bold Sir Rylas...

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Lighter
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 03:49 PM

Time for a new version of "Bangum and the Boar."

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 01:06 PM

wild boar....this bloody place is getting like Jurassic Park. Who set those things free.

Lets hope they meet up with the Beast of Bodmin.

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Rasener
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 01:33 PM

Well I hope they don't meet up Wild Wolds Women

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 01:38 PM

Great story!

I seem to remember a tavern near Lancaster that was dedicated to the wild boar.

And then there are those business special events where they are also encountered.

And just check out the banner ads below!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Cats
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 01:50 PM

These were released form a farm on Dartmoor earlier last year by animal rights protestors. Only a handful were captured and the rest are now wild, and breeding, on the moors. They are exceptionally vicious animals, although a native species which had once died out. For months now we have had warnings out down here that if we see them don't go near them as they will attack humans and other animals, but to let the police know. There is one farm that has a wild herd on now but the landowner will not let them be hunted down on his land. My haunch of wild boar on Christmas Day was very tasty .. it came from the wild boar farm in the next village not one roaming on Dartmoor!

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Old Grizzly
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 02:15 PM

....Bit like the so called 'animal rights protestors'.... Mindless Pillocks more like ...that released thousands of mink into the countryside which have been steadily destroying our native species.

As for wildboar, there are hundreds on the loose in the woodlands of East Sussex and Kent and they seem to cause very few problems. Some of these were escapes but a large number went missing in the hurricane about 20 years ago.

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 02:25 PM

My understanding is that while wild boars when are cornered or under attrack are pretty good at looking after themselves, they don't go looking for trouble. It's not a matter of them attacking "humans and other animals", but of defending themselves when they are attacked, or when it feels like an attack.

This story actually serves to confirm this - pretty obviously three hefty wild boar could have taken out an 80 year old lady armed with a dog lead, and a small dog ("I picked up Bosun"), if they'd been into attacking.

Wild Boar are a native species in Engkland, which didn't "die out" - it was wiped out by hunters. I think we should learn to live with them back once more where they belong.

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 03:17 PM

serve you right McGrath if a couple of them mug you outside the cashpoint at Tesco.

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 04:43 PM

I don't think their free range bacon is active in this locality. But if any Wild Boar want to take up residence in Epping Forest or Hatfield Forest, which are nearby, they'd be welcome, so far as I'm concerned.

If I can survive in a country full of people driving lethal cars and lorries around the place at high speed, a few hairy piggies with big tusks aren't too much of an additional worry. If need be, I can climb a tree, and I'm sure a walking stick could be as effetive as a dog lead.

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 04:48 PM

Wild boars are alive and well in Texas. No, I'm not talking about our beloved president and his cronies. These are "razor-back hogs" which escaped from their pens over the years and now number in the tens of thousands. For $1 you can join the hunt!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 04:50 PM

Wild boars are alive and well in Texas. No, I'm not talking about our beloved president and his cronies. These are "razor-back hogs" which escaped from their pens over the years and now number in the tens of thousands. For $1 you can join the hunt: click here for website

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 05:06 PM

If people are really into hunting Wild Boar, the age-old way to hunt them is on foot with a spear. Shooting them is for disrespectful wimps.

The boar is often depicted in association with the tree, wheels and ravens; it appears on the helmets of warriors and on trumpets. It is the animal of Celtic ritual feasts and food for the gods, esteemed the fitting food for gods and heroes. Bones were found placed ritually in graves, the head, again, being of special importance. Figures of boars appeared on British and Gaulish altars.

In Irish myth there are divine, magical and prophetic boars, and supernatural and otherworld pigs which bring death and disaster. In Celtic saga there are also the magical Pigs of Manannan and other legends (see Swine), according to which eating the flesh restored health and happiness.

The boar was ritually hunted and slain and there are many accounts of a Great Boar hunted by a hero. Twrch Trywth was a king turned into a boar who was chased by Arthur and his warriors across Ireland, Wales and Cornwall, where it disappeared into the sea. A Gaulish god is depicted with a boar and sculptures of boars are found in Celtic forts and in France and Portugal. Druids called themselves boars, probably as solitary dwellers in the forest." From here.

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Effsee
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 09:22 PM

My question is , how can a farmed boar be called a "wild boar"?
Surely it's only wild if it escapes, or is living free in the first place?
English language abuse!!

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 09:58 PM

I was in hunting lodge once in Germany and they had their heads on all the walls. I'm not actually keen on having wild pigs hanging round the place. They're ugly and they probably shit everywhere.

I was quite happy with them extinct. Nobody i know was consulted about re-integrating them back into society

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 10:06 PM

Effsee-

I challenge you to go to Texas and explain to a razorback hog that he isn't a "wild boar."

"Shoe strings" would be the apt and traditional description of what you would end up looking like.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Cats
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 06:45 AM

Wild boar as opposed to farmed boar... Well on the wild boar farm near us they have enclosed areas of 5 or 6 acres at a time and the boar are left there to remian in as natural state with as little human contact as possible, except for additional food when necessary and vets to keep an eye out for their health. Consequently, they are 'wild' as opposed to 'tame', if that makes sense. They aren't kept in Porklins type huts in a field.

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 08:37 AM

I'm surprised no one has objected about all this sexist language. "Wild Boars" indeed - what about the Wild Sows?

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 09:15 AM

Happy Hogswatch everybody.

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: GUEST,Librarian.
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 10:44 AM

Oook.

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: GUEST,Wild Diarmuid O' Flaherty
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 10:48 AM

As long as we don't use dogs, then, can we inner-city dwellers get together with improvised spears and hunt these Wild Boar down? After all, we might be considered "unspeakable", but, unlike foxes, the piggies can hardly be called "inedible". Think of it; we'd be combatting poor diet and obesity at the same time. Talk about taking two pigeons with the one bean.

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Rockhen
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 11:53 AM

Hats off to Mrs Hamilton-Meikle! If I had her address I'd ask her if she wanted to be the 5th and by far wildest member of the Wild Wolds Women...does she play an instrument? lol!

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Effsee
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 12:40 PM

I think I'll pass on that one Charley!

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 07:02 PM

"Off the Pigs", Diarmuid? I don't think there are very many Wild Boars are roaming round the inner cities yet. They might make them a bit safer if they were,

Subject: RE: Wild Boar meet Wild Woman
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Jan 07 - 08:30 PM

My uncle used to sing a ballad about a young lady who fell madly in love with a pig. He was not a wild bour, and her ardent appeals, alas, only elicited a grunt from him.

Charley Noble