In the province of Macerata there is a significant increase in accidents caused by wild boars and consequently an increase in claims for thousands of euros.
Compensation claims are increasing for accidents caused by wild boars and other wild animals, according to the data of the Province, a request for compensation is received every five days and the number of subpoenas in court is increasing considerably; according to estimates there is an average of one hundred and fifty accidents a year, mostly caused by wild boars.
In recent years, claims for compensation have gradually increased to 72 claims and 24 citations in 2011; moreover, in the first two months of 2012 alone, ten new requests for compensation of an average amount of approximately three thousand euros have already been received by the Provincial Offices. The main causes of accidents are wild boars but they are followed in the statistics by roe deer, foxes, otters, badgers and other wild animals.
The roads of the province statistically most at risk of accidents are those the Road 78 "Picena" in the stretch from Sforzacosta to Sarnano, the road 361 "Septempedana" in the stretch from San Severino to Fiuminata and the road 209 "Valnerina" which goes from Muccia to Visso. . The Province has already taken action last year in order to promote a prevention campaign to avoid, or at least reduce, accidents caused by wildlife., increasing road signs, warning signs, and posting information posters throughout the provincial territory.
Another measure to prevent accidents and damage in general is the reduction of the ungulate population such as planned slaughter plans.; this year the bad weather has made a big contribution to the containment of the species, in fact many animals have died due to hunger and cold.
It must be said that many accidents are never reported and many damaged do not ask for compensation for the damage suffered perhaps thinking of letting it go or doing justice on its own, especially in the case of damage to crops. In this perspective, unfortunately, illegal methods such as poaching traps are multiplying (steel snares, etc.).
Responsible for paying in case of accidents caused by wildlife is the Region and not the Province, as also decided by the Justice of the Peace of Macerata in recent months with two distinct sentences of two different judges, motivating them with the fact that "Law 157/92 entrusts the Regions with the powers of management, control and protection of wildlife, belonging to the unavailable assets of the State "; the Provinces remain competent, according to the special law 142/90, only for the quantification of compensation for damage caused to agricultural and cultivated land.