Cherasco farmers fighting the wild boar phenomenon
In addition to the economic crisis, the farmers of Cherasco must also fight against the wild boar phenomenon, a phenomenon that is particularly alive and felt in the area. Many farmers have complained for many years of this problem which, in addition to ruining the fields, also causes great economic damage, a problem that exists and that instead of decreasing continues to increase. “Every year in the summer, corn is sown - explains Maurizio Panero, a Cherasco farmer - but at night these animals arrive and eat all or part of the sown, causing great damage and forcing us to resow again.
In addition to the fact that we have to re-sow several times, there is the problem that the earth trampled on several times no longer performs as it did the first time and therefore in addition to the insult there is also a great economic damage. The damage caused by the ungulates are compensated - concludes Panero - but only the semen and little else is paid back, certainly not the overall damage suffered. "
The problem is also addressed by the local Coldiretti, which has been trying to find a solution for some time. “This year two hunts have already been carried out in the Cherasco area - explains Giorgio Bergia, area manager of Coldiretti - the first at the beginning of April, and the second last Friday, but both have produced few results. Now we have again sent a letter to the Province and to the ATC (hunting territorial area) CN1 to bring attention to the problem, to a situation that seems to be unique in the area. It is singular that while in the remaining municipalities of the ATC the damage from wild boars has been limited and in continuous decline, in the territory of Cherasco the trend is the opposite. Instead of decreasing, these are constantly increasing so that the costs for agricultural damage incurred by ATC are increasingly concentrated on Cherasco, while decreasing elsewhere. Unfortunately the problem remains and even if now the animals have scattered in the surrounding territories, they will certainly return to the Cherasco area - concludes Bergia - since in the area there is a private hunting reserve which thanks to its wood represents the ideal habitat for these animals. "
Someone, exasperated by the damage caused, has already experimented with a possible solution, a wild boar-trapping cage. “A few weeks ago on my land I saw 13 wild boars together - explains Maurizio Panero - and then I decided to intervene. I inquired from other colleagues of mine and installed a wild boar-catching cage on my property. These are cages in order, provided for by regional legislation and which can be installed after a specific request in the region. It helped, since after a few days I caught one. In addition, when the forest ranger was notified of the incident, the animal was left to me as compensation for damages. Perhaps not all farmers know of this possibility - concludes Panero - a solution which certainly does not solve all problems, but which can reduce the number of free animals around and therefore help everyone. "
Adapted from https://www.targatocn.it