There are far too many wild boars in Carinthia. In fields, the animals often leave a trail of destruction and damage thousands of euros. The hunters then have to pay for this.
Is Carinthia suffering from a wild boar plague? Karl Schmied of the Hegering of St. Georgen says quite clearly, “Yes! The wild boar population is actually increasing by 20 percent every year.” The herds move all over Carinthia. “But the St. Veit district has been hit the hardest. In the last two years we have shot 500 animals – and yet there are still far too many around.”
Huge damage to agriculture
So the wild boars are not spared. “We have to shoot them. They cause enormous damage to the farmers and also to us hunters.” When the animals, who are mainly out at night, forage for food, they can wreak havoc on farmland.
“And the responsible hunters in the affected area have to pay for this damage,” continues Schmied, who is also on the wild boar committee. And that can get quite expensive. “We’re talking tens of thousands of euros here!”
Hoping for support from the country
The leader of Hegering hopes for state support. “There are too many animals around. The damage is mounting and we don’t see that we are the only ones who have to pay!” And he adds: “In other states, the costs have long been borne by the state. And in Germany, the hunters even get money for every pig they kill.”
“In 2020 we made hunting for wild boars easier; using infrared and electronic target devices,” says County Councilor Martin Gruber’s office. Besides, it’s not that bad.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
