Close encounters

Close encounters

Posted on: 17/06/2011

Saturday June 18th 2011
A magical evening. Just as dusk was falling a young boar came trotting across my field, the first in two years that dared to venture out before dark. It started digging for roots under some bushes so I walked towards it as quickly as I could in a slow non-predatory way, talking quietly all the time to show that I wasn't trying to creep up on it. For a while it kept its distance but gradually let me get closer so I just sat down slowly, all the time talking quiet nonsense.

As it showed no signs of nervousness I left it to get a bag of corn from the studio (always keep some boar treats just in case). It was still snuffling around when I returned and I edged my way as close as possible to empty out the bag of corn. The noise of falling grain was obviously a shock and it ran off a short distance into the woods, peering back towards me through the trees.

I carried on talking soothing mubo-jumbo and slowly he started creeping back, seemingly curious as to what I had put on the ground. Their eyes might not be too good but their noses work just fine and it clearly picked up the scent of food from seven or so metres away. Enthusiastic chomping is a bit of an understatement and I sat down on the grass, keeping a non-threatening distance. Frequently looking up at me (probably wondering what the hell I was rambling on about), it was clear that my presence was no longer a concern so I began to shuffle closer to get some better shots. In the end I was sitting less than two metres away, just sharing the evening, each of us looking at the other until it was too dark to see.