Wild boars are making a comeback in the West Midlands countryside and causing problems for local farmers. In the latest incident, a Warwickshire farmer believes one of his heifers was savaged by a boar last month. The pregnant animal, along with 18 other heifers, was chased across fields into a neighbouring farm by what is believed to be a wild boar at Coughton, near Alcester. The increasing population of boar in parts of Warwickshire and Herefordshire is causing problems for farmers by disturbing livestock and causing thousands of pounds of damage to crops. Farming leaders have warned that the animals could be a danger to the public but police have said little can be done about the nocturnal creatures unless they intrude into urban areas. In Cinderford, Gloucester-shire, earlier this month, a boar that was believed to have escaped from a nearby abattoir ran into a supermarket and out through the front door before knocking over an elderly woman. In another incident, a woman riding a thoroughbred horse was chased by a wild boar while out in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. A pig farmer in the same area had his sows impregnated by a wild boar who got into his pig enclosure. Matthew Price, group secretary of the National Farmers Union in Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye, said he was concerned for public safety. "My main concern is public safety, both from the boar and from people who try shooting them. "A sow with piglets is extremely dangerous. They are impressively large creatures, very fast and very aggressive. In my opinion they are dangerous things. The population is fairly prolific and I would say high into double figures," he said. Graham Hancocks, of Coughton Field Farm, whose heifer has since recovered after being injured by the boar, said: "The wound was just too neat for her to have injured herself on something and that afternoon we saw a wild boar on the farm. "The vet said it was possible that the boar had attacked her. The boar could have been aggravated and nasty and the cow, being pregnant, would have stood her ground." Mr Hancocks shot a boar on his land later the same day, but believes it was not the same one he had spotted near his animals. Neighbour David Turner said: "It was about the size of a Shetland pony with big tusks. I think it was quite hungry and that is why it had been near the farm." Warwickshire police have received reports of sightings in Coughton, Alcester, Ettington and Wootton Wawen. Pc Craig Fellowes, environ-mental police officer for Warwickshire Police, said officers were monitoring the situation. "It is not unusual - there are wild boar sightings all over the county. We are aware of a herd of about nine in and around Stratford. "They are not considered to be a major public health risk but they can attack if cornered. There is little we can do. If one goes into a built-up area then we will act." In Ross-on-Wye, Hereford-shire, there are believed to be dozens of feral wild boar, which have made their home in local woodland after escaping from captivity. Matthew Price said the feral creatures were rapidly expanding in the Ross-on-Wye area and dozens had been spotted in local woodlands. One farmer has employed a professional stalker because of the huge amount of damage the boar cause to crops. "Some farmers who have had considerable damage done to crops have shot them on occasions and a professional stalker has been trying to thin them out for one farm but they are very difficult to get near to," Mr Price said. | 
