‘Fojos’ are old traps designed to capture wolves. This animal, which is today protected, was through many centuries the object of persecution motivated either by fear through its association amongst the hillfolk with the world beyond, or through the attacks made on animals grazing in the mountains. These structures, today regarded as cultural heritage, only exist in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. According to the specialists there exist five types of ‘fojo’, amongst which two types, the ‘converging wall’ and ‘goat trap’, particularly stand out. The ‘fojo’ that we are looking at here is a magnificent example of the latter type. It has a roughly circular form, with granite walls. Within these walls would be placed the ‘bait’, a goat, which would attract the predator, the wolf. Once inside, by virtue of the construction of the walls with overhanging capstones, the wolf would be unable to escape.
The Fojo da Portela da Fairra or Fojo de Parada has a further detail that distinguishes it from the normal ‘goat bait’ fojo. On the inside of the structure there is a type of shelter that offered the goat a refuge. This trap was the object of restoration work in 2005.