Wild boar or ‘cinghiale’, as it’s known in Italian, is one of the most well known larger wild species from Tuscany. These animals are seen mainly at night when they are attracted down from the hills to feast upon the ripening grapes. They often rip their way through rows of grape vines in only minutes. This can be incredibly destructive and has been known to cause more than 5 million pounds worth of damage to local agriculture. It does however manage to keep the local vineyard predators at bay!

Wild boar is also a very valuable item of local cuisine. They are hunted between mid-September and late-January and up to 70,000 per year are caught. ‘Cinghiale’ is a very popular food for the Tuscans who use it for many dishes, especially during autumn and winter. One of the main dishes ‘Pappardelle Cinghiale’, is so popular that the locals call it their ‘National Tuscany’ dish.