The Wild Russian Boars of Grays Harbor County

 

Remember about a dozen years ago how the proliferation of wild Russian boars terrorizing the hills of northern Grays Harbor County was in the news?

Seattle Times 8/9/2001

I remember seeing one that had been killed and then became a guest of a taxidermist and was on display in the front window of a Montesano sports shop. The thing had tusks and was about the size of a small couch.

The Washington State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife ruled that hunters could shoot these boars any time of the year, no permit needed, according to a June 22, 2001 press release.

Anyone out there have any update on this story?

Mini-Comics Day in McCleary, pt. 10

The Floating Head of Humptulips was a jam on Mini-Comics Day by Frank Young, Jim Gill,  Paul Tumey and Morty the Dog. The "occupency" sign (by Paul?) is a real-life typo from a public notice posted by the City of McCleary in the Community Center. Yes, Grays Harbor County is indeed in the Third World, where literacy is not first nature and dictionaries gather dust. It is even evident on street signs and newspaper headlines. On the public health index and unemployment, this county ranks dead last out of 39 counties in Washington.

Still, I love Grays Harbor County. This place is one of the last islands of the old Washington State, the real Washington we rural Boomer natives knew as we were growing up. Sasquatch is safe out here. We can still scratch where it itches. Wild Russian boars run amok.

Phone photo 1351

This is "Chef Pizza Monster." Apparently the mascot of Noble Roman's Take-n-Bake Pizza, based somewhere not in the Pacific Northwest. I have never seen this promo out here on the NW Edge of America before today. Since this company has been around awhile, those of you in the Midwest might be more familiar with this image.

Some time, somewhere, some one thought this was a good advertising image.

Uh, OK.

I'm sure the pizza is good and the company has enjoyed success in other parts of the country, but, I'm sorry, this creature does not inspire me to purchase this product. It looks like a Muppet on an acid trip. Or perhaps they are using magic mushrooms as a topping.

In fact, this thing looks very much like the mythological creatures the native people of the Northwest Coast of North America used to carve into totems. And frankly, those images scare the Hell out of me. If you live out here where we have volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis and "extratropical cyclones" (Columbus Day 1962), surrounded by thick jungle-like rainforests where creatures like wild Russian boars (who have tusks like this guy) and Sasquatch roam in a dramatic landscape, the thought of a cryptozoological animal with a chef hat serving food is sort of unsettling.

And of course us old guys recall the Purple People Eater. This mascot reminds of us of that song.

I love pizza, and maybe next time I visit that store I'll try this offering. But it will be in spite of the creepy creature. 

Phone photo 316

Hey, it's one of those Incredible Journey type things!

Bezango WA 985 #8

1st ed., December 12, 2002. 40 copies, blue cover.

1st Danger Room Reprint Ed., June 2005, five copies (1 red, 1 green, 1 blue, 1 pink, 1 yellow).

This was the final issue of the series, meaning there are only 45 complete sets of Bezango WA 985.

The "Conspiracy" theme issue includes wild Russian boars, which truly do run around this county.

"Grover" was a nod to Grover Krantz, who I was acquainted with when I lived in Pullman, Washington, home of Washington State University.

The GHC on a t-shirt is for Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen, Washington. And here we find another disturbing mascot, Charlie Choker.

Most of the world probably doesn't know the local meaning of "choker." It is a highly dangerous job in the logging industry. But to the outside world, they probably react with as much shock as they do to the previously mentioned Orofino Maniacs.

Uriah is based on the elderly gentleman I referenced in Phone photo 59. "Impeach Earl Warren" signs used to be a very common sight in neighboring rural Lewis County.

I was about halfway through Bezango WA 985 #9, but my computer crashed and all the text went with it. I took that as a sign to stop the series and move on. Several of the drawings I had in store for #9 were used later in Cranium Frenzy #10.

Phone photo 20

See this cup? It belongs to me. This hot beverage drinking utensil is proof that I am a normal person. It has a picture of a 19th century piece of agricultural machinery which pretty much places the whole matter beyond debate. I hope this puts the whole "normal" issue to rest.

Pay no attention to the small wild Russian boar standing next to it.

Morty the Blog, Not a Boaring Place

Just to show this won't be all comix all the time, I'll relate this local news. In answer to my query, the City of McCleary informs me that no, I cannot keep a wild tusked boar running loose in my totally fenced 3/4 of an acre yard.

Grays Harbor County, where I live, has been home to wild Russian boars for a few decades. Instead of going out and killing them, which the State encourages, I say we take them in and befriend them.

Sure they are an invasive species. That makes them strangers. Therefore as a stranger, as Shakespeare would say, we should give them welcome.

McCleary, where I live, is known for the annual Bear Festival, where citizens celebrate the community by eating bear stew and holding a parade. By changing just a couple letters, we could forget the consumption of hot stew in July (how crazy is that anyway?) and have a big parade of boars. Then our town could have a welcome sign that says, "Welcome to McCleary - Home of the Boar Festival!"

Now that would liven things up a bit.