Wild boars are large animals that live in the forests of Europe. They are heavy and can weigh up to 200 kilograms, but you don't often see them because they like to hide in thickets.
What do wild boars look like?
Wild boars have a broad head and a blunt snout that looks like a trunk. Their body is thick and covered with brown-black fur that looks like bristles. They have a short tail. Male wild boars, also known as "boars", have particularly long teeth that they sharpen. The female wild boars, "Bachen", have shorter teeth.
Where do wild boars live?
Wild boars live in many countries in Europe, but also in North Africa and West Asia. They like to hide in bushes or at the edge of forests and love to splash around in water. They can be found on lakeshores, in forests, swamps and even in mountains.
How old do wild boars live?
In the wild, wild boars usually live for 8 to 12 years, but in a zoo or wildlife enclosure they can live up to 30 years.
How do wild boars live?
Wild boars are very strong animals. They can run fast and move well through the forest. They are also good swimmers and can cover long distances. Wild boars have a very good sense of smell. They can even find truffles hidden deep in the ground.
What do wild boars eat?
Wild boars are omnivores. In the fall, they like to eat acorns, chestnuts and nuts. In spring, they eat grass and certain plants. Wild boars also dig in the ground to find roots and other tasty morsels. Sometimes they also eat carrion, i.e. dead animals.
How do wild boars communicate?
When a wild boar senses danger, it snorts loudly. This is called "blowing". When they run away, they can sound like barking dogs. Wild boars grunt together a lot and the small wild boars, the newborns, squeal when they don't like something.
How do wild boars have babies?
In autumn, the male wild boars recognize that the females are ready to have babies. Then the males fight over the females. After a pregnancy of about 4 to 5 months, the female gives birth to 3 to 12 little boars. The newborns initially have brown stripes on their fur, which later disappear.
Friends and enemies of wild boar
In the past, wild boars had many enemies, such as wolves and bears. Today, these animals are no longer everywhere, so wild boar no longer have many enemies.
What ammunition is used for wild boar?
High-caliber ammunition is generally used for hunting wild boar to ensure that the animal is killed quickly and humanely. The most commonly used calibers and types of ammunition are
- .308 Winchester caliber: very common as it has good range and strong penetration.
- Caliber .30-06 Springfield: Also widely used and a very powerful cartridge for larger wild boar.
- Caliber 7x64: Another caliber that is often used for wild boar. It is powerful and has a good range.
- .223 Remington caliber (for smaller wild boar or in special cases