When you set out for a day of fishing on the bank, getting charged by a wild boar isn’t part of the game plan, but you just never know what you might come across. This guy was more than prepared though. Hell, he was prepared for just about anything.
Wild hogs are a problem. These massive invasive animals can reach over 300 pounds and cause an insane amount of damage. They cause over 1 billion dollars worth of damage in the U.S., mainly on land in Texas, but they’re found all over the south. A newer species from Canada, adapted to colder weather, has also started to invade the northern states like North Dakota, Montana and Minnesota.
Dr. Ryan Brook, who is head of the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Wild Pig Research Project, says the issue is actually relatively new:
“The U.S. has a 400-plus year history with invasive wild pigs, but we didn’t have any here until the early 1980s. There was a big push to diversify agriculture with species like wild boards and ostriches. Wild boars were brought in from Europe to be raised on farms across Canada.”
Beyond causing an insane amount of damage these creatures also be very aggressive if you come across them in the woods. They will charge, and due to the large size they are able to cause very serious damage to people. It is rare, but can happen.
This guy, who was looking to do some bank fishing in Florida, got more than he bargained for when he was making his way through the woods to the water’s edge.
He notices something coming, realizes it’s a boar and backs off. But the thing keeps coming close as you hear the rustling of the trees.
“Don’t do it..”
But he does. The boar comes for him, and the man quickly pulls out a firearm and cracks a shot off at him with his pistol. Even if you just plan on fishing, between the gators and the panthers, and I guess the wild hogs, it seems like having a firearm in the Florida wilderness is a smart move.
Head on a swivel out there, folks.
