"Looking for Signs of Wild Boar"

Important Notice:
Woodlands in East West Sussex are constantly being visited by Poacher after the Wild Boar there, if you see or know of anything, then could you please contact Derek Harman, Tel: 01797 270 786

Page last revised:
18th February 2005

Below is the diary of the Wild Boar event that took place down in East Sussex.

Saturday 8th May 2004,
5.30am
I arrived safely at a very wet and ground soddened Rye Foreign Nr Peasmarsh East Sussex, where even the sheep and lambs in the fields look depressed with the weather, I parked my car at the rear of the of the "Hare & Hounds" public house, of which I was to pitch my tent that evening, but due to the relentless precipitation, there wasn't a single tent in sight, so I felt a night indoors sounded a lot warmer and inviting, after closing my eyes for about 30 min's, I decided to go and look around the woodlands there, to see if I could find any signs of Boar, it didn't take to long, as within the first half hour I'd picked up on a crossing point where they crossed the lane from one part of the wood to the other, I spent about 4 - 5 hours looking but couldn't see much else at that point.

11.30am
I decide it was time for me to return to the Hare & Hounds where I'd previously arranged to meet any members that may wish to drop in and chat at 12.00 noon, I waited for approx 30 - 40 min's and two orange cordials later I figured I was going to be on my own with this one.

I enquired about a room for the evening seeing as the weather was so persistent, but the prices was way above my expectations, "where have I been for the past 10 - 15 years" they must have thought, so on the toss of a coin it was the back seat of the car as opposed to the front, that I'd sleep in that evening, after that mammoth gamble I returned to the woodlands to continue with my search.

1.00pm
The second visit was a little more rewarding, but only after speaking with someone there and asking "where's all these Wild Boar Signs then?" they then directed me to the bottom part of the woodland, where I immediately found some wire meash fencing that surrounded a newly planted forest, and the Boar had forced it's way through underneath the fencing,forming a tunnel shape in the meash.

They're kinda built like a JCB on legs, not letting any obstacles prevent them from reaching their goals, whether it be food or whatever. This picture isn't a very good one, but the camera I used is fairly old now as far as digital photography is concerned., it's just a point and shoot......very straight forward......not even a zoom on it, last year I had to enter a Lynx's enclosure and stand approx 4ft away from the feline just to get a descent picture. it's a good job the animal was tame, otherwise I wouldn't've be needing the camera anymore.

8.15pm
I couldn't go on listening to my stomach yearning for food any longer so of I drove into Rye to feed it, "Chips and a Savoloy" washed down with a can o' coke was on the menu, I asked for them to be doubly wrapped, so I could take them back to the site and eat, so by 9.15pm I was once again settled sitting in my car using it as a hide whilst filling my face, David Attenborough would've cringed to see my behavour.

I'd not long finished eating when I noticed what appeared to be a crow and a rabbit at play with one another, thinking it a little odd, I looked through my binoculars to get a clearer view, it turned out the crow had just killed one of the rabbits young, and was trying to carry it off, whilst the parent was trying in vain to reclaim it back again. I raised my camera hoping to get this on film just as the crow lifted off with the young rabbit in it's grasp, I'd just began recording the site of activity when a Wild Boar just ambled into shot............ talk about luck.......it was only a very short piece of footage but unmistakably a Wild Boar and on film non the less.

I was quite content with that, and around 11.00pm decided to get my head down for the evening, It rained continually through the night and I found it very hard to sleep, it wasn't the fact I was all alone in the middle of the forest all night surrounded by some 200 head of Wild Boar, but the fact that I couldn't get comfortable enough in my car, I kept waking up trying to turn from my left to my right, or visa-vera, sticking my leg over the drivers seat etc, just tying to get comfortable enough for a couple of hours, I've always wanted a camper and this I feel now would justify me having one, but with hardly any money coming in, it seem most unlikely to happen, unless I was able swap it for my car.

Sunday 4.30am
I couldn't continue any longer with this quest for sleep, and evetually arose to greet the dawn chorus, there something magical about woodlands at dawn and dusk, I get myself together, and pack everything away, tidy the car and finish with another can o'coke fer breakfast, before I take off again to look further, I tried the opposite side of the woods this time, on the other side of the lane, it didn't take long before I found further evidence, the ground had been turned over, some quite large patches too, looked more like a teenagers half hearted attempted at gardening, recognising the symtoms from my earlier days. they apparently root for bluebell bulbs, as well as other roots, earthworms and grubs, the earthworms and grubs are usually taken to countract the toxins in the acorns they eat (Derek Harman).

Further into the woodland I found a trail which I followed, it led me to a crossing over a small stream where I was able to take a cast from, this was the first time I'd used this particular compound, (dentstone) it's usually used by dentists and gives a more detailed finish than the ordinary plaster-of-paris, I was faily pleased with the results, especially as it was my first practice with the mix.

I'd seemed to loose all track of time that morning and before I knew it, it was 10.30am, so I headed back towards the car, fully expecting another 2 quiet orange cordials fer breakfast, I was famished after all the ducking under branches climbing over stumps, twisting the body this way and that, passing through overgrown green corridors, thinking to myself people pay good money to punish their bodies like this, why not at least enjoy the experience and have a "Woodland Workout"

11.30am
I returned to the "Hare and Hound" for the last time but this time before I went in parked out on the front and began to make notes on my dictaphone, I use this because my memory isn't to good at the best of times, and it helps me be more acurate with times etc, and as I was making these notes the cleaning ladies clocked me, looking at me quite puzzled and suspicious, they proberlby thought I was making a report on them as when I walked into the bar at 11.50am, I overheard them talking about me sat outside, and quizzing my motives, I left them guessing.............it was more fun that way.

12.00 noon
Finding myself a seat by the window, which wasn't hard as the pub was empty, I began to sup on my breakfast, when the first of my members arrived, Alan and Kara. Kara came up to me "Chris" she said, "Yes" I replied jumping out of my seat to greet them, we sat to talk and within the next 5 min's Tim arrived, and 10 min's after that Michael, the five of us sat and discussed our interests and such, I found them all very polite and interesting to talk to, though I eventually went off on one of my quiet periods, I've never really mixed with many people, and if you wasn't aware of my shyness, you'd proberbly think I was ignoring you, but far from it, it's just my brain become over fatigued quite easily, due to lack of communication with the outside world, that I just shut down. I'd arranged to meet Derek Harman at 2.00pm, he was our guide and knows these parts quite well as well as the Wild Boar, and is quite an expert in this field, so we left at approx 1.30pm to meet up with him at the prearanged rendezvous.

2.00pm
We drove down to the woods for the last time, Derek was only a minute behind us, and after a brief talk we were finally off, he pointed out some signs that I'd already found, but other signs that which were present made me feel as I'd been walking around with my eyes closed, Derek certain knew his stuff alright, packed with a vast knowledge of information and a personality t'boot, I wasn't dissapointed. he shown us tree rubbings, wallows, found guard hairs which had been snagged on trees, as well as seeing Wild Boar themselves.

Pictured Left to Right: Alan & Kara, Michael, Myself and Tim.

 

Another hole made in fencing by the Wild Boar, it shows the sheer strenth of these animals, to just push their way through.

 

A Wild Boars rest up! note the markings on the tree, where mud has dried from the Wild Boar after a good wallow

 

Derek Demontrates just how dangerous a Wallow can be, this one has been utilised from a natural underground spring, he drives his prized 4ft walking stick all the way down to the top, imagine the danger to a young child he says, this is just one of the reasons to not let children wander of into woodlands if Wild Boar are suspected to be living there.

 

 

I promised Derek that I would show this picture of a rather nasty looking snare which is in use today to trap and kill Wild Boar, if anyone finds anything that resembles this then they can contact Derek Harman Direct on: 01797 270786

 

Appologies for any inconvinience caused by there being no visible pictures here, we are trying to find rectify this error asap.

Thank you

 

Chris Mullins
Co-ordinator
BEASTWATCH UK
Tel: (01509) 551 621
Mobile: 07021 123 777
Email: info@beastwatch.co.uk