Hunting damages in the light of economic and legal conditions

Abstract

The animals’ interactions with their habitats, in the conditions of progressing changes of agrocenoses and forest phytocenoses, lead to damages of the plant cover which are described as animal-caused damages. In the case of wild game the responsibility for damage done to cultivated land and crops rests on the tenants or administrators of the pieces of land defined as the hunting grounds. The problem of damages has become serious in recent years due to the increasing populations of wild boars which cause greater damage to crops than other animals. Financial burdens of hunting inspectorates and circles are growing in step with the damage intensity and their members are often compelled to pay compensation for damage done by wild game. Under such circumstances, co-operation of hunters and farmers seems to be necessary to radically reduce the animals’ influence on crops. However, in the present structural-economic conditions of Polish agriculture such co-operation is not simple and requires much effort, commitment and good will.