Plea for help after wild boar spotted
Experts say up to 40 animals on Alyth Hill
East Perthshire residents are being asked to report any sightings of wild boar or feral pigs in the Alyth area.
Perth and Kinross Council and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) made the appeal following some sightings of the animals on Alyth Hill in recent months.
Current estimates suggest that there could be as many as 20 to 40 of the animals on the hill, which is popular with dog walkers and also home to Alyth Bike Park.
However, information about the distribution of the wild boar is limited and PKC and SNH are keen to find out more about how many there are in the area and whether they are moving into new territories.
The organisations have also said that they will hold a public meeting in the new year to discuss the issue.
The move comes following an initial meeting between the local authority, SNH and other organisations such as Alyth Community Council and Forest Enterprise last month.
A spokesperson for SNH told the Blairie: “Due to some of the sentiment expressed in that meeting and in previous discussions with the community council, we have confirmed we will hold a public meeting in due course.
“That will be some time in the new year but no date has been set yet or arrangements made.
“We, with Perth and Kinross Council, are asking people in the Alyth area to report any sightings or signs of feral pigs which have been released or escaped from private collections.
“There have been some sightings on Alyth Hill and there may be between 20 and 40 animals but information is limited and the council and ourselves want to learn more about their numbers and movements.
“Various agencies, including SNH, Forest Enterprise and Perth and Kinross Council will meet farmers and landowner representatives and other local people soon to look at ways of managing feral pigs in the area.
“We are also writing a report for the Scottish Government about feral pigs in Scotland, looking at the current and potential damage that feral pigs could inflict, especially if the population expands into betterquality agricultural areas.”
As well as sightings of the animals, they would also like to know where signs of rooting and ground damage appear.
Earlier in the year Forest Enterprise, who manage land at Alyth Hill, put up signs to inform walkers of the presence of wild pigs.
Others are understood to have been seen outside the Forest Enterprise fence and possibly even several miles away.
It is also thought that some wild pigs are being shot by farmers or gamekeepers.
Any wild pigs that have been shot should be tested for the presence of the parasite trichinella.
Although the parasite can be killed by thoroughly cooking meat products, it is recommended that carcasses are tested in accordance with the Food Standards Agency guidance.
Any local sightings of wild boar can be reported to the council by calling 01738 476476 or emailing animalwelfare@pkc.gov.uk.
Sightings can also be reported directly to SNH at www.brc.ac.uk/ irecord.