What to do to avoid encountering a wild boar
In areas where wild boars are found, encountering them is quite possible. But wild pigs will not specifically seek contact with humans. Fans of forest recreation say that in the distance from villages and holiday villages you can hear a heavy animal making its way through the bushes. Often it is a boar – its weight can achieve 300 kg, so the crackling of branches and twigs can be heard from afar.
It happens that wild boars also appear in populated areas. So, in the fall of 2022, in a public page of one of the dacha villages located near St. Petersburg, appeared warning: a herd rushed along one of the outlying streets, you should be careful. Such situations can happen where the forest begins immediately behind houses and garden plots.
An important rule: in order to avoid encountering an aggressive boar, you should not approach it. If you are in the forest and hear the sound of breaking branches, it is better to be careful and not follow the sound to see who is making the noise.
It is worth remembering: you should not approach wild piglets. If a female is nearby, she will immediately rush to protect the cubs. Moreover, the attack may be unexpected. The most dangerous period is April-May, when the cubs appear to the light.
Under no circumstances should you try to feed the animals. Also dangerous approach to sick and dead animals. If you see a wounded animal, you should report it to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
What to do if a boar notices you
A wild boar very rarely attacks on its own initiative. Much more often provokes Human.
The beast may charge when it is wounded or enraged. Therefore, you should not tease a wild pig. For example, throwing stones or sticks at it, trying to drive it away with a long branch – such actions can lead to major troubles.
It’s better not to even try to shoot the beast or drive it away with a knife. An inexperienced hunter would rather wound a boar than kill it with one blow. And a wounded animal is always very dangerous.
If you encounter a wild boar, try not to panic. You need to act quickly but calmly.
Try to scare the beast away
If you have a weapon, pyrotechnic ammo, or a flare gun, shoot up. Scream loudly, knock on metal objects – for example, a pot or bowl. It makes sense to take a whistle with a loud and sharp sound into the forest and hang it around your neck. It can be used to drive away various wild animals, including wild boar.
Use fire as protection. For example, hold a burning branch or torch in front of you. If you are staying overnight in the forest, you can specially prepare several dry branches for this purpose. Fire is usually capable of drive away most wild animals, including wild boars.
Don’t turn your back on the beast and don’t run away
This is a universal rule, and it helps when encountering a wide variety of predators. Animals perceive the runner as a weak creature who is ready to give up. For a predator this is easy prey, especially since a boar can develop speed up to 30 km/h. Therefore, if he sees you, but does not attack, retreat back, without letting the beast out of sight.
Strive to take a position in which there will always be some obstacles between you and the animal – tree trunks, bushes, windbreaks. If the boar decides to attack, it will be more difficult for him to reach you.
If a boar rushes towards you, quickly move to the side
This animal is not capable of maneuvering – a heavy boar gains momentum and runs in a straight line. Therefore, if he flies towards you, immediately get out of his way.
You may only have a few seconds before impact, so don’t waste a moment. There is a high probability that a boar that has picked up speed will fly past and then not return. When meeting a herd, you should act the same way.
If there is a river or lake nearby, you can go into the water and wait until the beast leaves.
If the animal doesn’t lag behind, try to climb a tree
It happens that the boar cannot be driven away and it continues to chase the person. If you find yourself in this situation, as you retreat, look for a tree that you can climb.
You can even settle down in a low fork – the main thing is that the wild boar cannot reach you from the ground. This animal does not know how to jump, and it is also not able to climb a tree. Therefore, he will most likely very soon will leave leave you alone.
If you climbed a tree and feel safe, you should not anger the boar – for example, throw cones at it. He can stay close and wait a few hours until you get off.
Sitting on a tree, you can also try to drive away the wild boar by shooting upwards, shouting or blowing a whistle. Or just wait until he loses interest in you, and then get down and go to a safe place.
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