A walk in the forest is also so beautiful because it smells so good in the great outdoors and under the trees – of wood, leaves and grass, of moss and wet earth, of wild garlic or woodruff.
But sometimes the slightly pungent aroma of Maggi seasoning can be noticed on hikes through our forests. Then caution is advised. Because this smell, which is strongly reminiscent of the world-famous seasoning sauce, indicates that wild boars are nearby. Nature experts are currently drawing attention to this on several online portals.
“Wild boars smell like Maggi, regardless of gender,” explained Gertrud Helm, a speaker at the Bavarian Hunting Association, to “Radio Bayern 1” this week. You can smell it quite clearly, “for example when they are walking through the forest,” says the wildlife expert.
In Germany it is possible to encounter wild boars in the wild all year round. However, the topic is currently coming into focus because the animals are now raising their offspring in the spring.
“Black coats,” as they are called in hunters’ language, are generally not considered aggressive. They usually avoid people. However, female wild boars in particular can become a danger to people or dogs if they are encountered in the forest and they feel confined or threatened.
Because the Bachen defend their younglings “without ifs and buts,” biologist Thomas Schreder also made it clear to the Bavarian broadcaster.
His advice is that anyone who smells Maggi in the forest should retreat and call their dog back. This is also better than trying to scare away a wild boar with clapping or other noises. Things like that don’t impress the animals. It is important to give them enough space so that they can avoid or escape.
You should definitely not risk a fight – several articles on the topic strongly warn against this. A confrontation with a wild boar can be very dangerous and even fatal – for both people and dogs, for example. The canine teeth of these large, defensive animals, some of which are more than 20 centimeters long, are considered sharp weapons.
But why do wild boars smell like Maggi? Nobody can answer this question; the smell seems to be a freak of nature, as several reports show.
It therefore has no influence at all what wild boars eat. No matter whether the omnivores feast on a few acorns or eat grass, roots, eggs or small animals – they always exude the same Maggi body odor.
Speaking of feeding: If you walk carefully through the forest, you can also see other signs that wild animals are nearby, as they search the ground for food and leave behind characteristic burrowing spots.
By the way, it is not unlikely that you will come across a wild boar: in this country, their number is estimated at 300,000 to 1.5 million, according to the German Wildlife Foundation. It can smell like Maggi in many places – from the Baltic Sea islands to the foothills of the Alps.
Sources: Bayerischer Rundfunk, German Wildlife Foundation, “In Franken.de”
Read in the archive at stern: There are more wild boars in Germany than ever before. Because the forest offers them too little food, they come to the settlements. Altenkessel in Saarland is repeatedly visited by the animals. How the villagers protect their gardens and hunters fight against the plague.
