NEW rules are being considered to make it an offence from July to feed the wild boar.

At the Forest of Dean Council's strategic scrutiny committee meeting last Thursday, Cllr Bruce Hogan (Lab, Lydbrook and Ruardean) asked the council's solicitor if it would be possible for the council to look into introducing a by-law.

However, the Forest of Dean Deputy Surveyor Kevin Stannard, who delivered an update on the boar management, said it would be "difficult" for the Forestry Commission to introduce a by-law just for the Dean.

He said: "In response to a councillor's question I confirmed it would be very difficult for Forestry Commission to get the Forestry Commission by-laws changed just for a local Dean matter as our by-laws cover all of the public forest estate in England, and only apply to the public forest estate."

Mr Stannard said the Forestry Commission had met the agreed cull of 135 for 2013/2014 as planned, and that he expected a forthcoming thermal imaging survey to show an increase in the boar population. A final decision on a new cull target will not be made until he receives the results in late April or May.

Mr Stannard said: "I anticipate the figures will show an increase in the population size because the population of boar in the Forest has continued to grow. This is evidenced (albeit anecdotally rather than hard survey data) by the significant increase in visual damage to amenity grasslands...

"Feral wild boars reproduce rapidly...the population is not limited by available food – within the Forest there is no shortage of food available to the boar. Putting a definitive number on the feral wild boar population is not possible. The surveys will, when repeated each year, give us a picture of whether the population is rising, stable or dropping.

"Thus putting a figure of what we'd like to see as a definitive population size for the Forest is also not possible. I have suggested, based on the estimated population of 800 from our rangers sightings, a population of around 400 might be sustainably managed. That is, however, somewhat immaterial as what matters is slowing/stopping the population increase and then bringing the numbers down - whilst matching that to assessments of damage in the communities.

"Managing wild populations is a long-term activity that takes time, commitment and experience; there is no magic wand solution to the feral wild boar problem. We know what we need to do, and we will work diligently and professionally towards that goal."

Cllr Don Pugh (Lab, Pillowell) led a motion at full council about a boar management strategy with the Forestry Commission which was passed.

He said: "The scrutiny meeting went very well and I found Kevin Stannard was very frank, open and honest about his strategy to manage the boar.

"The boar management group – joint between the district council and Forestry Commission – may look to promote education about boar in the public."