Oink oink
Yesterday, while working in the garden, we heard what sounded like someone blowing their nose very hard. When we looked up we saw a large wild boar walking up the road quite calmly. The noise was it’s sniffing of the air to see who was about! Here’s the subject in question…
After looking at us for a moment it walked into our neighbours drive and started eating the heads from their border plants. He seemed to enjoy his snack and then simply walked back up the drive and across the field into the mata (undergrowth).
The wild boar was about three-quarters of it’s adult size with the trademark unforgettable smell.
Have any of you already living out here had a similar experience? If you are reading this with curious amusement, let me assure you that when you find your perfect property in Central Portugal, this kind of this could well be as common as seeing the neighbours cat!
Tags: caca, funny, Hunting, javali, javeli, portuguese life, wild board
January 15, 2009 at 6:24 pm
As a keen gardener I was interested to read your comments about wild pigs here in central Portugal. We have a plot of land that we are going to build our new home on. In the grassed areas there are marks and gouges in the soils that look like they could have been made by an animal. The dryness of the soil and the large stones that are pulled up make me think it must be a machine that has done it.
Are these pigs dangerous? What happens if the come around when we are living in the new house ?
I have emailed you some photos of the land
February 8, 2009 at 3:33 pm
We have a huge number of rabbits on our land. They eat everything but the grass.
If I was in the UK I would invite a friend who shoots to sort them out. What can I do here in Portugal. Is there a “have gun will travel” out there who can help me.
SarahB
February 8, 2009 at 3:40 pm
http://ourportugal.wordpress.com/2008/06/10/javeli-alert/#comment-161
answer for Jardin post
Wild boar are certainly very large and strong.
The good news is. They are normally very shy and keep away from people. Just living in your house is enough to keep them away.
They do however love garlic, onions and sweet corn. So if you intend to grow these you may need a fence around your garden.
If you come across a wild boar I would advise that you just walk away from it.
It will have food on its mind not trouble so you are quite safe
March 5, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Oh Deer!
Yesterday we were driving in the hills above Lousa and came across two adult female deer, quite large, no horns and dark brown. One turned and disapeared into the trees the other set off along the road in front of us. she was running at least 60Km an hour before heading off into the trees.
June 29, 2009 at 8:48 am
Hi SarahB,
Rabbits can be a big problem here if you are trying to produce crops for home consumption as everything you grow is what they like to eat (apart from cerbola/onions).
You can go to your local Camra/Council office and ask for the contact information of the local hunting association who will arrange to come around and shoot. The main problems are that most rabbits come out at night, its against the law to shoot at night and secondly the speed rabbits breed you would have to have an almost bi weekly shoot to keep them under control. The best method of defence against rabbits is a rabbit proof fence made of small hole galvanised mesh 600mm high with a tight fitting gate.
In Portugal a “friend with a shot gun” can get into big trouble if your garden isn’t in a hutting zone and he has not got a licence to carry a shot gun or a current hunting licence.
I hope this helps and good luck with your garden
Paulo
June 29, 2009 at 8:52 am
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Horto Mondego they have a huge selection at wholsale prices. (speak english)
Av. Elisio de Moura
3030-183 Coimbra
TEL 239701283
http://WWW.hortoondego.ht