Shropshire Star

First Clun, now Telford: Is this proof of wild boar in Shropshire?

Could this be more proof that wild boar are in Shropshire?

Published

One resident has claimed boar have been digging up his garden with their snouts.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust said there have already been confirmed sightings of boar in south Shropshire.

Though Alan Stewart, 73, and his wife Margaret, have not seen the creatures in their garden, they say the markings are the same as ones left by the boar population in the Forest of Dean.

They said that neighbours have taken pictures of trotter marks in mud around the area.

Mr Stewart said: "These creatures are 150kg in weight and can charge.

"We live on the edge of woodland in Madeley and we watched an article on the news on Tuesday about people being charged by boar in the Forest of Dean. Recently there has been digging done in our garden and the marks made by the boar was exactly the same.

"The boar have got cartilage in their noses and it is like a digger and they can go down several inches – bearing in mind this is hard ground and clay, I can't dig it with a fork.

"They've made a real mess of the garden."

Though they have not seen the animals, Mr Stewart said: "My wife has seen shapes when she's been out late at night with the dog and the security light comes on.

"We've lived in this house for 27 years and we've seen foxes and badgers and all sorts. But this damage only started in the last three months."

He is worried that the animals may injure walkers in the woodland and has warned people to be on alert.

Jan Mckelvey, conservation manager at Shropshire Wildlife Trust, said they have already had confirmed sightings of boar in the Clun Valley, with one recently caught on a camera trap.

She said the Severn Valley woodland that surrounds Madeley would offer excellent habitat for the boar.

But she said that the damage caused by boar can be confused with that of a very active badger.

She has urged people who have actual sightings of wild boar to contact officials at the trust.

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