Now Overrunning Fukushima: Wild Boars

Disaster led to population explosion, farmers complain
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 25, 2013 12:16 AM CDT
Fukushima's Latest Woe: Wild Boars
Boars in the Fukushima region no longer appeal to hunters.   (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Ravenous wild boars are making life even tougher for farmers affected by the Fukushima disaster, the Japan Times finds. The government has lifted planting bans in part of the affected regions, but farmers are finding their crops devoured by the boars—even after electric fences have been put in place. The farmers say boars weren't a big problem before the 2011 disaster, but the animals have become much bolder since large areas once cleared of brush by humans have been overgrown. Hunters used to help keep the boar population in check, but they've been staying away out of fear the meat is now irradiated. (More Fukushima Daiichi stories.)

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