Wild Boar

Occupying a vast range, the wild boar has evolved into a number of subspecies (about 35 have been described, but not all may be valid). In Europe, male wild boars may reach a head-body length of 200 cm, and a weight of 200 kgs. The tail measures about 25 cm. Females are significantly smaller. Male wild boars grow tusks from both the upper and lower canines curving upwards. The top tusks are hollow and act as a permanent whetstone against which the lower tusks are continually sharpened. Females do not grow the upper 'sharpening' tusks as do the males, and their lower tusks are smaller.

Wild boars are social animals living in groups called sounders. Sounders are are matriarchal and organised around a core of two or three mature reproductive females with their most recent litters. Occasionally wild boars will congregate in larger groups. Adult males are not part of the sounder outside of the breeding season and are usually found alone.

Sows have an oestrus cycle length of 21 days, pregnancy lasts for 112-120 days. The reproduction period varies regionally, depending of climatic conditions. In Europe, farrowing can occur at any time throughout a 6-9 month period but peaks in April. A litter will typically contain 4-6 piglets. Up to 13 may occur, but rarely more than 8 are brought up, as the females have only 4-5 pairs of teats.

The piglets weigh between 750 g - 1000 g at birth. They have characteristic light brown and cream coloured longitudinal stripes. They will begin to eat solid food after about 2 weeks and are fully weaned at 3-4 months

Wild boars are usually nocturnal, foraging from dusk until dawn but with resting periods during both night and day. Their diet consists of almost anything they come across, including nuts, berries, carrion, roots, tubers, refuse, insects, small reptiles--even young deer and lambs.