In the most part the predators here are similar to those found in the UK, such as foxes, and rats etc. However northern Spain also has some added wildlife problems, some of which are listed below:-
Snakes - A summer problem when living in the campo (countryside), Northern Spain has a number of different snakes, of which 5 are venomous. The most common venomous snake is the Montpellier, and I have recently had problems with one in my vegetable garden. It was approximately 1.5 metres long, and refused to give up its new found home. The most common is the ladder snake, so named as the young show a white ladder along their backs. The ladder is not venomous, but is very aggressive. Occasionally we get snakes in the house, but a swift grab behind the head soon sorts them back outside. The snakes are a problem for the young chicks, as they make a tasty meal for the snakes, and obviously they are very happy to take eggs.
Polecats - As we live on a mountain side, which is part of a national park, we have various types of shy wildlife. The polecat falls into this section. While polecats/pine martens in the UK, found mainly in Sctoland are about ferret size. The polecats here are about badger size, and will take fully grown hens, as well as eggs and chicks.
Badgers are also found in abundance here, and pose the same TB risks to livestock as in the UK, but do not in my experience steal livestock.
Wild boars - On the mountain where we live we have many wild boars, these can normally be seen or heard at dusk throughout the summer months. In the spring they come down from the top of the mountain to rut, returning up the mountain in the autumn. These animals are very dangerous and if cornered will charge at you. The adult wild boar have tusks which can cause very bad injuries. The male boar could be a risk to the pigs, as both as gilts. If the male decided he wanted to get to them, then nothing would stop him, resulting in possible wild boar cross piglets, and loose pigs. The Catalan people have a method of protecting their crops and lifestock from the boars, which is to urinate on the land you want to protect, as the boars will not go near human urine. but then the Catalan people as a whole have not been subjected to our Victorian view of natural human behaviour. for example: A law has just been passed to making it illegal for women to urinating in the street in Barcalona, men are still allowed. Sexist or what ????
Brown Eagles - In this area we have an abundance of brown eagles. These have a wing span of appoximately 8 feet, and can take a chick, or hen when feeling peckish. The only answer to protecting the stock is to wire roof the enclosures.
Ticks - These are the bain of every livestock and dog owner in Catalunya, They are everywhere, and can cause nasty topical bites, but also infections such as limes disease. Dogs are generally treated with frontline or xspot type treatments. Pigs have no such treatment, as most pigs are reared indoors here and therefore ticks are not a problem. For myself keeping pigs outdoors means checking daily for them.
Mosquitos - Besides giving you a nasty bite, the mosquitos carry diseases such as leishmanosis.
Two of my dogs have contracted this disease which is expensive to treat both in time and money, and once the dog is well again the disease lays dormant in their system for life. To keep the disease dormant the dog has to have a daily tablet for the rest of its life, which is also used to treat gout in humans. Pigs can also contract this disease, as well as humans. This disease has now spread to southern England and English vets are been trained in Spain to recognise the signs and treatment.
Flies - Even Northern Spain is very hot in the spring thorough to autumn and flies are a problem for all livestock including humans. Pigs can suffer fly bites, which they scratch and then get secondary infections from. Chicken can suffer from flies laying their eggs in the wing area, causing maggots under their wings.
We have many other predators to animals here, which I will cover in another post. Please dont have predator nightmares after reading them.
Snakes - A summer problem when living in the campo (countryside), Northern Spain has a number of different snakes, of which 5 are venomous. The most common venomous snake is the Montpellier, and I have recently had problems with one in my vegetable garden. It was approximately 1.5 metres long, and refused to give up its new found home. The most common is the ladder snake, so named as the young show a white ladder along their backs. The ladder is not venomous, but is very aggressive. Occasionally we get snakes in the house, but a swift grab behind the head soon sorts them back outside. The snakes are a problem for the young chicks, as they make a tasty meal for the snakes, and obviously they are very happy to take eggs.
Polecats - As we live on a mountain side, which is part of a national park, we have various types of shy wildlife. The polecat falls into this section. While polecats/pine martens in the UK, found mainly in Sctoland are about ferret size. The polecats here are about badger size, and will take fully grown hens, as well as eggs and chicks.
Badgers are also found in abundance here, and pose the same TB risks to livestock as in the UK, but do not in my experience steal livestock.
Wild boars - On the mountain where we live we have many wild boars, these can normally be seen or heard at dusk throughout the summer months. In the spring they come down from the top of the mountain to rut, returning up the mountain in the autumn. These animals are very dangerous and if cornered will charge at you. The adult wild boar have tusks which can cause very bad injuries. The male boar could be a risk to the pigs, as both as gilts. If the male decided he wanted to get to them, then nothing would stop him, resulting in possible wild boar cross piglets, and loose pigs. The Catalan people have a method of protecting their crops and lifestock from the boars, which is to urinate on the land you want to protect, as the boars will not go near human urine. but then the Catalan people as a whole have not been subjected to our Victorian view of natural human behaviour. for example: A law has just been passed to making it illegal for women to urinating in the street in Barcalona, men are still allowed. Sexist or what ????
Brown Eagles - In this area we have an abundance of brown eagles. These have a wing span of appoximately 8 feet, and can take a chick, or hen when feeling peckish. The only answer to protecting the stock is to wire roof the enclosures.
Ticks - These are the bain of every livestock and dog owner in Catalunya, They are everywhere, and can cause nasty topical bites, but also infections such as limes disease. Dogs are generally treated with frontline or xspot type treatments. Pigs have no such treatment, as most pigs are reared indoors here and therefore ticks are not a problem. For myself keeping pigs outdoors means checking daily for them.
Mosquitos - Besides giving you a nasty bite, the mosquitos carry diseases such as leishmanosis.
Two of my dogs have contracted this disease which is expensive to treat both in time and money, and once the dog is well again the disease lays dormant in their system for life. To keep the disease dormant the dog has to have a daily tablet for the rest of its life, which is also used to treat gout in humans. Pigs can also contract this disease, as well as humans. This disease has now spread to southern England and English vets are been trained in Spain to recognise the signs and treatment.
Flies - Even Northern Spain is very hot in the spring thorough to autumn and flies are a problem for all livestock including humans. Pigs can suffer fly bites, which they scratch and then get secondary infections from. Chicken can suffer from flies laying their eggs in the wing area, causing maggots under their wings.
We have many other predators to animals here, which I will cover in another post. Please dont have predator nightmares after reading them.
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