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Wild Boar

Sus scrofa

Not yet photographed by the community

Re-established in Forest of Dean and elsewhere; powerful digger.

Species Profile

Not assessed on the UK Red List; classified as an invasive non-native species and subject to control in many areas

Lifespan: 8–10 years in the wild, up to 20 years in captivity
Size & Weight: Body length 90–180 cm; shoulder height 55–110 cm; weight 50–100 kg (females smaller than males)
Habitat: Broadleaf and mixed woodlands with dense undergrowth, also found in scrubland, agricultural areas, and wetland margins.
UK Distribution: Feral populations established in south-central England (particularly the Weald of Kent and Sussex), with smaller populations in the Forest of Dean and other locations; not native to modern Britain but expanding range.
Diet: Omnivorous; feeds on roots, tubers, fallen acorns and beechnuts, fungi, insects, earthworms, carrion, and occasionally small vertebrates and bird eggs.
Prey: Earthworms, insect larvae, small amphibians, bird eggs, and carrion
Predators: Adults have few natural predators in the UK; young piglets may be taken by foxes, badgers, and golden eagles where present
Mating Season: November to January
Breeding: Gestation period 115–120 days; litter size 4–8 piglets born March to April; females typically breed once per year; piglets weaned at 3–4 months.
Behaviour: Highly social, living in groups called sounders led by dominant females. Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, spending much time foraging and rooting in soil. Males are solitary outside breeding season and highly aggressive.

Did You Know?

•Wild boars can uproot large areas of woodland and grassland while foraging, causing significant ecological and agricultural damage
•They are excellent swimmers and can cross rivers and water barriers to colonise new territories
•Males develop large, curved tusks that continue growing throughout life and are used in fighting during the rut
•Feral populations in the UK are descendants of escaped farm pigs and reintroduced individuals, not natural recolonisation
•Their rooting behaviour can damage archaeological sites, crops, and conservation habitats, making them controversial in the British landscape

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