Where the wild things are
On dogs and other creatures of the wild
It had been raining quite heavily yesterday so while walking through the woods today, the usually invisible marks of the nocturnal woodland fauna was made visible in the mud.
Boars on the run
Mario, the hunter was the only other person walking about at that time. He explained that the tracks were of wild boars.
In fact I’d also noticed quite a few wild boar crossing points along my path. They look as if someone has dug an escape route under the fence on one side and then on the opposite side is a corresponding entry point. But the animals themselves have never made an appearance.
Not that I’m worried. As long as I’m just minding my business and staying on the marked route I feel relatively safe. Not safe enough to totally switch off while listening to an audiobook, but enough to feel relaxed and unthreatened.
Primal fears
The more concerning encounters have been with the dogs guarding the private estates through which much of the Via Francigena trails in Lazio run. As someone who is fearful of anything barking and boisterous it’s been like walking the gauntlet. That initial scamper of heavy paws before the first bark…. terrifying!
The Maremma sheepdog, a hugely popular breed, has been my nemesis.
They do look gorgeous, like a slightly larger golden retriever. But don’t let their fluffy aspect deceive you. If you dare to walk past their territory they will bark and snarl and follow you along the fence until the last corner.
These dogs aren’t pets but weapons of mass protection. When they have you in their sights, they mean business. So just smile and look away as you walk by and of course pray that the fence will hold and that no wild boars have been digging escape routes nearby.