100kg wild boar creates panic in Lot village

A wild boar estimated to weigh around 100kg spread panic in a commune in south-west France by breaking into a funeral business and narrowly missing two people.

The boar ended up at the commune of Salviac, Lot, following a hunt on November 1. It had seemingly been flushed out after a hunt ended but instead of running back to the woods it ran towards the village. 

As it ran through the streets, customers outside the bar of La Poste had to take shelter inside. 

“I had never seen an animal charge into the village like that in all my years as a hunter,” Jérôme, a member of the local Club Saint-Hubert Salviacois hunting association, told La Dépêche.

Afterwards, the boar crashed into the funeral home, where owner Catherine Figeac was meeting a client. It broke through the glass entrance and ran through the premises.

Ms Figeac said that she and her client found themselves face to face with the boar and had to climb onto her chair to avoid it while shouting to warn people outside.

“I was terrified! It smashed through the reception door and crossed the room. It was very imposing. The hump on its back hit the top of my 90cm high desk several times – you can imagine its size,” she said to La Dépêche.

It then continued towards a nearby restaurant, trying but failing to force its way through the entrance. It then fled with nobody having been injured. 

Members of the hunting association later visited the business to inspect the damage and help with repairs. 

What to do if you encounter a wild boar

Wild boar usually prefer to avoid people but can become dangerous if they feel threatened or cornered. If you encounter one, you should avoid approaching it or trying to chase it away and keep children and pets indoors until it leaves. 

They can also cause damage to gardens while searching for food. Strong fencing, securing rubbish bins and removing fallen fruit can help discourage visits.

You can read more tips on how to keep them away from your garden in our article here.