They are getting closer and closer to us. The cities' most mysterious inhabitants. Who are they referring to?

Walking around the city, we may encounter visitors from the nearby forests. This fact surprises us less and less, as cities have become a new habitat for many animals. Wild boar, foxes or bats find their way well into the urban environment. But... what should we do if we encounter a forest animal on our way to work, school or the shops?

Not so long ago, to meet a wild boar, you had to go into the forest. Finding one outside its natural habitat was quite a challenge. Today, in many towns and cities, wild boar can be found walking in the suburbs or large housing estates. It leaves its tracks, which an attentive eye can easily spot. In short, the wild boar has almost made itself at home in Polish cities.

The boar is wild, the boar is angry, the boar has very sharp fangs! The lyrics of this song are familiar to many of us. What is it really like?

Wild boars belong to the porcine family and are quite large mammals. Adult specimens reach between a metre and a metre and a half in length. However, what is really impressive is their body weight. Wild boars weigh an average of 200 kilograms, but there are cases where an adult male weighs up to 300 kilograms. Wild boars are omnivorous animals. Nuts, acorns and seeds dug out of the soil form the basis of their diet. Don't let this fool you, wild boars are not herbivores. They also eat insect larvae and other invertebrates. Rodents and even carrion also make up their diet.

Why do wild boars appear in the city? The reason is simple: ease of obtaining food. In the city, wild boars have direct access to open rubbish bins or places where order is not necessarily present. It also sometimes happens that it is the city dwellers themselves who feed the wild boars. These animals are very intelligent and return to places where they can easily get food.

Interestingly, it turns out that the lyrics of a very well-known song mislead us. Wild boars, contrary to popular belief, are not aggressive animals. Cases of wild boar attacks on humans are very rarely reported. However, encounters with them can be stressful. What should we do if a wild boar crosses our path? The answer is one thing: keep calm and move away from the animal without any sudden movements.

A fox walks by the road! An excerpt from this rhyme proved prophetic for city dwellers

The fox is the largest wild carnivore that visits or takes up permanent residence in the city. The fox is far from the size of a wild boar. It reaches a length of about one metre and weighs between five and ten kilograms. It is impossible not to notice it, as its reddish-red fur attracts human gazes. The fox tends to be an animal that leads a nocturnal lifestyle. However, it is not excluded that you will also encounter it during the day.

Foxes are predators that prey on birds and small mammals. They mostly eat hares, rodents and sparrows. So how did foxes find their way into the city? Despite appearances, the urban environment is favourable to them. Foxes hunt rodents, of which there are indeed many in urban environments. Open rubbish sheds and the rubbish bins themselves are also a source of their food. Fox burrows are increasingly noticeable in urban forests.

What should you do if you encounter a fox on your path? If the fox has not spotted you, keep calm and move away from it. And, more importantly, if you encounter a fox while walking your dog, it is essential to keep your distance, and absolutely do not rat on the fox with your dog. The fox is a predator after all and this should not be forgotten.

They sit by themselves all winter, drink nothing, eat nothing. Who is being referred to?

Curious, did you know that bats are mammals? Mammals that can be found in the urban sky. There are actually quite a few of them! These mammals sleep half the year and are active at night. Nevertheless, they can even be found around the house. These animals have poor eyesight. They cope well in the dark thanks to their well-developed hearing organs. Bats are carnivores. Their diet is based on flying insects, especially flies, moths and beetles.

Why do bats thrive in urban areas? Urban areas are extremely attractive to them. Bats find many hiding places in the city that are ideal for daily rest, but also for breeding. Premises that are unheated, unvented and insulated from the outside environment are ideal for them. This is why bats can also be found in vacant buildings, which are a kind of substitute for natural caves.

Chiropterologist, or where to look for help when a bat appears in the house

It is worth knowing that bats living in Poland are under strict species protection. However, it may happen that a bat flies into your flat through a window. What then? If this happens, turn off all lights, remove curtains and drapes and open the window wide. It is very likely that the bat will find its way outside again on its own. If this does not happen, contact a chiropterologist. Their services are free and a list of specialists is available online.