(Yangpyeong and Yeoju=Yonhap News) Reporter Wooseong Lee = "The harvest is coming soon, but the wild boars have ruined everything."
Ms. Lee (60), who grows crops in Yangdong-myeon, Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, sighed as she looked at her field, which had turned into a wasteland after trying to harvest perilla and frosted perilla.
The wild boars had dug up and trampled the crops, making it difficult to harvest because they were eating the insects underground.
Mr. A, who grows chestnuts in Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong County, also suffered similar damage recently.
Approximately 90% of the 17,000 square meters of chestnut trees are damaged by wild boars and gorals, forcing him to abandon the harvest.
The estimated damage is worth 150 million won, but the compensation he received from the county office was only 260 million won, which was not much help.
As the harvest season approaches for crops such as sweet potatoes, corn, and rice, reports of damage by wild animals are continuing throughout Gyeonggi Province.
According to Yangpyeong County, 186 reports of damage by wild animals have been received so far this year. The highest number of reports was in July with 56, followed by 21 in August, 23 in September, and 11 this month.
Yeoju City has also received numerous reports of damage, with a total of 183 reports this year. Reports of damage have continued at a rate of 10 to 20 per month.
Most of the damaged crops are sweet potatoes, corn, and rice, with reports also of sesame, beans, and chestnuts.
Local governments operate teams to capture harmful animals, but since measures such as capture are taken after reports of damage, there are limitations in prevention.
So far this year, Yangpyeong County has captured 1,000 wild boars and 2,700 gorals, and Yeoju City has captured 211 wild boars and 2,000 gorals, somewhat alleviating the worries of farmers.
An official from a local government in the province said, "Since July, when sweet potatoes and corn are harvested, it is the peak season for wild animals' feeding activities, so farmers need to be especially careful."
gaonnuri@yna.co.kr