All about wild boars. What does a wild boar eat in nature

Boar

The fog is falling
The boar wakes up.
Digging the ground by the river
Sharpens sharp fangs.
The boar is the closest relative of the domestic pig. This animal has been known to people for a long time, it is mentioned in ancient myths and legends.
In Russia, in ancient times, the wild boar was considered one of the most valuable hunting trophies. After all, to cope with this fierce beast - the boar, as it was called for its ferocious disposition - is not an easy task.
The wild boar is an animal of impressive size, its length is 1.5 meters, and its weight is 150–200 kilograms. Adult male boars grow frightening fangs that are dangerous for any animal. Boars run quite fast, and move well even in dense thickets. Their body has a streamlined shape, covered with stiff bristles that do not cling even to gnarled branches. Running away from danger, the wild boar is able to reach speeds of up to 40 km/h and run up to 10–15 km without rest. Wild boars swim well, can move through the swamp and climb slopes.
The eyesight of these animals is not very good. They learn about the approach of danger thanks to their hearing and excellent sense of smell.
Wild boars have amazing adaptability to new living conditions. Exported to a number of areas of Australia, Northern and South America, they perfectly acclimatized and multiplied in an unfamiliar area.
Boars are omnivorous animals, they feed on rhizomes and tubers, evergreen parts of shrubs, seeds and fruits of trees, mushrooms, moss, they also eat food of animal origin: earthworms, beetles and their larvae, fish, mice, etc. Strong muscles of the upper lip they can move the "patch" in all directions, which makes it possible for the boar to easily stir up the forest floor and meadow turf and, thanks to a fine sense of smell, find food. Wild boars destroy many forest pests. So, feeding on the larvae of the May beetle, the wild boar reduces their number by 40%.
Wolves are the main threat to wild boars. True, they prey on weak boars. Males are able to defend themselves with fangs. An angry female fiercely protects the cubs, and it is extremely dangerous to approach her during this period.
PUZZLES
Everyone always wants to have
Striped piglets.
Forgetting what's next
Everyone will become ... (boar)
Branches crunch in the forest
Here and there.
Looking for acorns ... (boar)

Elk

Moose are easily recognizable by their long legs and hook-nosed muzzle. It is the largest representative of the deer family. The mass of an adult male can reach 900 kg, and the height at the withers is 2.5 m. The upper lip of the moose is longer than the lower one and hangs down, giving the moose a characteristic look. The body is relatively short, with the anterior part much higher than the posterior.
Spatulate horns are present only in males. The elk got its nickname - elk - for the shape of the horns.
Moose live in the forests. In previous centuries, it was widely distributed throughout Europe and North America; today, the number of elk has sharply decreased.
It feeds on both grass and tree branches, in winter it eats needles, gnaws on tree bark. Moose are unpretentious in food. But he needs a lot of food. He eats 15–20 kg of green mass per day. Moose don't eat hay. In winter, it eats branches of pine and spruce. Winter is a difficult period in the life of an elk. During this period, he is very short of food, it is difficult for the beast to move in search of food in the snow. He wanders along beaten paths, saves energy, spending most of his time lying down. AT very coldy moose burrow into loose snow.
Moose have well-developed hearing, a sensitive sense of smell, and vision is poorly developed; e.g. motionless standing man he does not see at a distance of a few tens of meters.
Moose live, as a rule, in small groups of 3-6 animals. In spring, sometimes at the beginning of summer, moose cows give birth to one or two cubs. For about a week, little moose calves remain in place, hiding in the grass or bushes, then they begin to follow their mother. Babies eat milk. Little moose calves cannot pluck the grass because of their long legs. Toddlers do not learn to lean right away.
The first horns grow in males in a year - in April-May; at the end of July-August they harden. Adult males shed their antlers in November-December. New antlers begin to grow in April-May.
Moose flee from wolves and other predators. Wolves attack adult moose only in a pack. More often, newborn elk calves or sick animals become their prey.
MYSTERY
Touching the grass with hooves,
A handsome man walks through the forest
Walks boldly and easily
Horns spread wide.
(Elk)
PATTER
The elk walked through the forest, went out to the pool,
Ples was nice and loved by salmon.
An elk pushed into the splash,
He muddied the salmon.

Wolf

A gray wolf walks and roams.
And teeth click and click.
Fur like bristles
Perked up on her back.
I. Mordovina
Many millennia ago, people revered the wolf as a sacred animal, treated him as a strong and intelligent beast. The ancient Romans believed that Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, owed their lives to the she-wolf who nursed them. The Slavs, Germans, Turks and Persians also have legends about the she-wolf - the educator of the rulers-heroes.
In fairy tales, wolves are portrayed as simpletons, in fact they are smart and quick-witted and even cunning. Wolves, looking at each other, exchange information. They communicate with each other with gestures. Much about the state of the wolf can tell the position of the tail, head and ears, posture and voice. Wolves not only howl, they can grunt, growl, howl and even bark - depending on the situation.
The wolf has excellent sight, hearing, and sense of smell. The latter is several thousand times thinner than that of a person; this is understandable: the wolf receives information about the world around it primarily with the help of smell. A wolf will smell a hidden partridge for several tens, and a roe deer for a hundred meters.
The wolves that live in our forests look like a large sheep dog. These are physically strong animals. In a short distance, he can reach speeds of 60 km / h!
The wolf has a reputation as a voracious predator, an enemy of man. Therefore, wolves were mercilessly exterminated, they were hunted, rounded up. This led to the fact that in Western Europe wolves almost completely disappeared. Significant populations of wolves have survived only in remote taiga regions of North America and Asia.
Wolves are the "orderlies of the forest." Despite the fact that wolves are really bloodthirsty predators, they will never attack large animals, with the exception of only weakened or sick individuals. The notoriety of wolves was created by adult aggressive males who, for one reason or another, failed to create families. Possessing a vicious disposition, such animals can attack livestock, ruin chicken coops, and they are also dangerous for humans.
The wolf is able to eat up to 10 kg of meat in one sitting, but, having caught a large beast, it hides the carcass in reserve. Wolves are hardy animals and can go without food for more than two weeks.
MYSTERY
He looks like a sheepdog.
Whatever a tooth, then a sharp knife!
He runs, baring his mouth,
Ready to attack the sheep.
(Wolf)

The wild boar is the most famous and popular animal among hunters. A trophy in the form of a head or fangs, hanging on the wall after a successful hunt, pleasantly pleases the eye and brings its own zest to the home interior.

But keep in mind that hunting a boar is very dangerous. With an unsuccessful shot (especially for inexperienced hunters), he can only be wounded. From this, the boar becomes furious, he can attack the hunter and inflict serious injuries on him.

Appearance

What does a boar look like? The boar is a powerful and strong animal. He has a fairly large build and short legs. A short body with a short tail, a massive sternum and a narrow pelvis. His neck is short, thick, the skull is wedge-shaped. The nose of a boar, like that of a domestic pig, is a snout.

The coat is hard, reminiscent of bristles. It ranges from dark gray to Brown color. With the advent of winter, it thickens, a dense undercoat appears.

The billhook has a body length of 90-180 cm. Its height at the withers varies from 50 to 110 cm. How much does a wild boar weigh? It weighs between 50 and 300 kg. The average weight of a wild boar is 150 kg. The male boar is usually larger and heavier than the female. Max Speed wild boar up to 45 km per hour.

How long do boars live? The average life expectancy is approximately 10 years, and in captivity - up to 20 years.

The most remarkable part of the body of the billhook are the fangs. When the boar reaches maturity, they grow up to 25 cm. With them, he gets his own food, digging up the ground for the extraction of rhizomes. Also with fangs, billhooks defend themselves from enemies: bears or wolves.

Types of billhooks

Each region has its own species of wild boar. In Spain, France, Italy, the Central European or Marem species is common. In Sardinia and Andalusia, the Mediterranean boar. And also there are Indian, Oriental and many others.

Habitat

Where does the boar live? Initially, these animals were seen in Asia, Europe, North Africa. After they appeared on the islands of Britain, Java, Sumatra and many others. Today they live in the forests of Siberia, in some areas of the Irkutsk region, as well as the Krasnoyarsk Territory. You can also meet him in the Moscow region.

The boar's habitat is tropical, montane forests, with high humidity. In our country, it is attracted by oak forests and swampy areas.

Lifestyle

This animal does not have very good eyesight, but an excellent sense of smell. He smells a person, especially in the wind, at a distance of about 400 km. Pungent odors can scare away the animal and disrupt the hunt.

The boar is an animal that lives mainly in herds. Usually it is inhabited by females with boars of last year's breeding. An adult boar leaves it and lives alone. He returns to the herd only for the mating period, taking the place of the leader.

The boar is active at night. During this period, he goes out to have lunch and take water procedures. During the day, he rests in the reeds or in the swamps, hiding in the bushes.

habits

The habits of the wild boar are quite interesting.

These animals are very sensitive to temperature changes. In order not to get sunburn and protect themselves from the bites of various insects, they are carefully smeared in the mud.

An important condition for the living of these animals is the presence of a reservoir near the rookery.

The habits of wild animals make the boar stay away from people. To settlements they approach extremely rarely, but forays into the fields where oats or corn grow are made regularly.

The boar leads a sedentary lifestyle. AT summer months he only comes out of his hiding place to eat. Then he comes back again to rest.

AT winter time the habits of the boar do not change. The wild boar also moves little in winter, as the snow does not allow it to go far. The wild boar, despite its clumsiness, is an excellent swimmer.

Gon

The rutting period for wild boars lasts from December to January. An adult male finds a herd of females by smell, sound and footprints. When the boars are in rut, they return to the herd. After fertilization, they leave it again. As a rule, wild boars have several females per rut.

At this time, the behavior of males becomes aggressive. If a rival came to the herd, a deadly fight is inevitable. They hit each other with their fangs, inflicting terrible lacerations. The loser leaves the herd.

Pregnancy of the female proceeds for 120-130 days. Before the start of childbirth, she leaves the herd and looks for a secluded place. Then he builds a couch for himself, like a "nest" of branches and dry grass.

The female boar gives birth to 5 to 15 piglets weighing about 1 kg. Their coat is black or brown with white longitudinal stripes. This color protects babies from predator attacks. It is better not to approach the female's lair during this period, as she is very aggressive.

Food

What do boars eat? Appearance these animals are quite formidable, so many are interested in whether the wild boar is a predator or not.

In fact, they are practically omnivorous, because they eat wild boars in different time year different food:

1. The wild boar feeds in the forest, extracting various roots and tubers of bulbous plants from under the ground. They contain a large amount of useful substances.
2. In summer and spring, the wild boar feeds on green leaves and shoots of plants.
3. Its diet includes berries, fruits, acorns, nuts, potatoes and agricultural plants.
4. They also feed on frogs, earthworms, insects, larvae, and small vertebrates, and in winter they do not hesitate to pick up carrion.
5. The wild boar also eats acorns, voles, oats and wheat in autumn.

Now you know what a wild boar eats.

natural enemies

Boars have their enemies. These are wolves, bears or lynxes. Wolves attack in packs. First, one of them, jumping on top of the boar, knocks him to the ground, then the whole flock pounces on him. Lynx, most often attacks young individuals who have strayed from the herd. She jumps on his back, inflicting severe and fatal wounds.

The bear is the most feared enemy. Attacking the billhook, the bear squeezes the animal with its powerful paws, and it dies from bone fractures.

Hunting features

Wild boar hunting is one of the most dangerous activities. You can hunt alone or take part in a paddock. We must not forget about the peculiarities of the habits of wild animals and that it is very large. Its weight reaches 300 kg.

The beginning of the hunting season depends on the places where he lives. From August to January - this is hunting for young animals and males. Shooting of females falls on September and December. There are many ways to hunt a billhook: from a tower, a paddock, with dogs or from an approach.

Video

You will find interesting facts about the life of a boar in our video.

Boars are a type of wild pig. These animals belong to the order Artiodactyls but, unlike other representatives of the order, they are in a special suborder of non-ruminants, which also includes hippos.

Wild boar (Sus scrofa).

The wild boar is a large animal, the weight of hardened males can reach 250 kg. The appearance of these animals is quite typical: wild boars are stocky and do not exceed 1 m in height, the body is rather thick, the neck is short and wide, the head is large with an elongated movable snout. The ears of the boar are quite wide, and the eyes, on the contrary, are small. The legs are relatively short, but this does not prevent the boars from running fast and jumping high. The body of the animal is covered with coarse gray-brown hair, thin and short tail ends with a brush. Like many wild pigs, wild boars have a pair of tusks protruding from their mouths, which wild boars use for food and protection.

Wild boars are distributed throughout Eurasia from Western Europe to Far East. Boars - forest dwellers, their favorite habitats are broadleaf forests, especially oak forests, in which wild boars feed on acorns. But these animals can be found both in the forest-steppe and in reed beds along river floodplains.

Boar on the river bank.

Crows look for ticks on the body of a wild boar that has just taken a mud bath.

Boars are omnivores. The basis of their diet is plant foods - root crops, bulbs and succulent rhizomes of plants, mushrooms, as well as all kinds of dry and juicy fruits (acorns, nuts, chestnuts, wild fruits and berries), in winter these animals additionally eat branches and grass. In addition, wild boars are not averse to diversifying their diet with animals - they get worms, snails, insect larvae, ruin bird nests, and on occasion they can eat small snakes, lizards, frogs, rodents, carrion. When obtaining food, wild boars often dig the ground with their mobile, but very strong snout. Wild boars can dig unfrozen soil to a depth of up to 30 cm. These animals are quite voracious and, with an abundance of food, quickly gain fat.

The breeding season for wild boars is in November-January. Lonely males join the herd and expel young males from it. When two equal opponents meet, they fight each other, sometimes inflicting serious wounds on the enemy. Each boar collects a harem of 1-3 females. Pregnancy lasts 4-4.5 months. The female gives birth in the den from 4 to 12 piglets.

Piglets are born tabby and weigh about 900 g.

At first, the babies are in the den, and the mother often visits them and feeds them for a long time lying on her side. Piglets grow quickly and after a week they begin to leave the den with the female. At first, in case of danger, piglets scatter in different sides and hide in the bushes, the grown young are fleeing with their mother.

A female boar with piglets.

Wolves, bears, tigers, less often lynxes and leopards prey on wild boars. Especially many animals die in winter because it is difficult for wild boars to move through deep snow. Basically, predators attack young animals because an old boar and even an adult female are capable of inflicting serious wounds on the attacker. In general, the wild boar is a brave beast and, in case of real or apparent danger, attacks animals of an equal size.

The role of the wild boar in the life of nature is twofold. On the one hand, these animals bring considerable benefits by digging up the forest floor and planting seeds of forest plants into it, as well as destroying many pest larvae. On the other hand, wild boars can cause no less harm: where their numbers are high, wild boars often cleanly destroy thickets of bulbous and rhizomatous plants, destroy the nests of birds and bumblebees (including very rare species). Therefore, the number of these animals must be regulated. People have been hunting for a wild boar since ancient times, because the meat of this animal has unsurpassed palatability. Often wild boars are specially bred for this purpose in hunting grounds. Once domesticated, wild boars gave rise to numerous breeds of domestic pigs.

Wild boars dig snow in search of food.

A wild boar, or a wild boar, or a wild pig is a mammal from the order of artiodactyls, the suborder of pig-like (non-ruminant), the family of pigs. It is the ancestor of the domestic pig. In mythology - "fearless beast".

The wild boar is an omnivorous artiodactyl non-ruminant mammal from the genus of pigs (Sus). Differs from the domestic pig, which is undoubtedly descended from the wild boar (and other related species), has a shorter and denser body, thicker and higher legs; in addition, the head of the boar is longer and thinner, the ears are longer, sharper and, moreover, erect, sharp, the fangs are more developed and sharper: in the male they are much more developed than in the female. The bristles, except for the lower part of the neck and the back of the abdomen, form something like a mane on the back. The bristles are black-brown in color with an admixture of yellowish, the undercoat is brownish-gray, due to this the general color is gray-black-brown, the muzzle, tail, lower legs and hooves are black. Pied and piebald specimens are rare and are thought to be descendants of feral domestic pigs. Body length up to 2 m, tail 25 cm, shoulder height 95 cm; the weight of an adult boar can reach 150-200 kg.

A massive animal on low legs, the trunk is short, its front part is more massive than the back, the back is strongly raised in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, the neck is thick and short, the head is wedge-shaped, the tail is thin and short. On the nose, in males, upper and lower fangs protrude from the mouth, on the back there is a comb of bristles that rises when the animal is excited. The color of the fur is from whitish to black, age-related changes are pronounced - the piglets are brownish, with light yellowish stripes. Close species on the territory former USSR no. Geographical variability is very high, based on the variability of craniological features, body size and color features, more than 50 forms are described, but 26-28 subspecies are recognized as real, of which 5 live on the territory of the former USSR.

Wild boars are found in broad-leaved and mixed forests mainland Central Europe (from the Atlantic to the Urals), the Mediterranean (including certain regions of North Africa, including the Atlas and Cyrenaica), the steppe regions of Eurasia, Central Asia, in the northeast of Western Asia; in the north it reaches 50°N. sh., in the east to the Amur and the Himalayas; beyond these limits (in South Asia, South and Central Africa) it is replaced by related species. In ancient times, the range of the wild boar was much wider than the modern one. AT Central Europe and in the Middle East it was formerly found practically everywhere, now it is exterminated in many places, as in all England. It is believed that the ancestors of modern domestic pigs are wild boars of Mesopotamia and Europe. In Russia, the wild boar is found in large areas of the European part of Russia (except for the northeastern tundra and taiga regions), in the Caucasus, in Southern Siberia; in the Tien Shan it rises to 3300 m. North America European wild boars were introduced by humans as an object of hunting and spread into wild nature along with feral domestic pigs. In Australia, feral pigs are similar in lifestyle to wild boars.

The wild boar lives in water-rich, swampy areas, both wooded and overgrown with reeds, bushes, etc. Old males live mostly alone and join the herds only during mating. Females usually form small herds of 10-30 females and cubs and young, weak males. Estrus occurs from November to January; fierce fights take place between males at this time. Pregnancy lasts about 18 weeks, the number of piglets (born normally once a year) 4-6 and sometimes 12; at first they are painted with white, black-brown and yellow stripes, which help to camouflage themselves in the forest floor. The female carefully guards the cubs and furiously protects them from enemies. Wild boars reach puberty at about 1.5 years of age, becoming adults at 5-6 years. The movements of the boar are clumsy, but fast, it swims excellently and can swim considerable distances. Vision is poorly developed, but the sense of smell and hearing are very good. Boars are cautious but not cowardly; irritated, injured or protecting young, they are very brave and dangerous because of their strength and because of their large fangs. In addition to humans, only wolves and lynxes are dangerous to wild boars, mainly young ones, and in South Asia tigers, which, however, rarely attack old large males. During the day, wild boars lie in a dug hole; sometimes a common lair is arranged. In the evening they go out to swim and look for food, consisting mainly of vegetation (roots, fruits, acorns, etc.), but also including various small animals and carrion. They can also visit the fields of potatoes, turnips, cereals, causing harm agriculture, especially those that tear and trample the crops. They often damage young trees as well. Very rarely, wild boars attack and rather large animals, sick or wounded, for example, fallow deer, roe deer, even deer, kill and eat them. Boar meat is tasty (for which he was tamed), skin and bristles are also useful.

The habitats are very diverse - from the zone of dark coniferous taiga to deserts, in the mountains in all belts up to the Alpine. Limited polygamy. Leads a herd life all year round, the size of the herd varies throughout the year. Adult males (hooks) outside the rutting period live alone (soliters). The size of the habitat area depends on the food supply and protection of the place, it changes with the seasons. In winter, the plot area is from 0.5 to 2.5 square meters. km. On the site there are beds, feeding places, baths and trails. Communicate through olfactory and acoustic signals, vision is poorly developed. Wild boars arrange lairs (lairs, gaina) of dry grass, reeds and branches, in which, together with the female, piglets up to one year old lie down, males lie down separately. Used in mud. Nutrition is varied and changeable, including four groups of food: underground parts of plants (rhizomes, roots, tubers, bulbs of plants) - the basis of nutrition all year round; seasonal feed (fruits, nuts, berries and seeds); vegetative aerial parts of plants; animal feed (worms, molluscs, insects and their larvae, small vertebrates, carrion). The rut takes place in November-January. Farrowing in March-May, more often in April. Pregnancy 114-140 days. The number of piglets is usually 4-6, max. - 10-12. Newborns (weighing 600-1000 g) are covered only with bristles, the underfur grows later, the color is striped. Up to 2 weeks of age, piglets scatter and hide in danger. Females reach puberty at 8-10 months, males at 18-20 months, but they take part in reproduction later.

To meet a wild boar in the forest is an unenviable situation, a large animal with powerful fangs can scare a tourist, a mushroom picker and even a novice hunter. But if you do not twitch, the boar most likely will not notice the person, the eyesight of wild pigs is weak, but the sense of smell is excellently developed and, having sensed danger, the boar will leave on its own.

A wild pig, also known as a boar, is the oldest animal on the planet, 2.5 million years ago wild boars already trampled our land. In the Neolithic era (about 9 thousand years BC), the first domestic pigs appeared - direct descendants of the boar, the existence of which began to depend on humans. But wild pigs have also retained their unique evolutionary line; today they are familiar, quite numerous animals. The boar is a large animal, what do wild boars eat, growing to truly gigantic sizes? What allows them to survive in the wild?

Who are the boars

The wild boar is a non-ruminant artiodactyl from the pig family. Boars belong to the genus Boar, which also includes their descendants - domestic pigs, closest relatives - bearded pigs and other mammals with a characteristic pig appearance.

Adult boars grow up to 175 cm in length, the height of males at the withers reaches 1 m, the females are smaller, their height is about 90 cm. The average weight of a wild pig is about 100 kg, but there are specimens weighing up to 150 and 200 kg. Within the territory of of Eastern Europe you can observe wild boars, whose weight reaches 275 kg, and in the Primorsky Territory and in the northeast of China there are wild boars - heavyweights, weighing up to 500 kg! A medium-sized boar needs from 3 to 6 kg of food per day, and the diet of a wild pig depends on the habitat.

Wild boar range

In ancient times, the range of the wild pig was much larger than today, but uncontrolled hunting has led to the extinction of animals in many areas of the planet. At the end of the 19th century, wild boars were completely exterminated in Libya. In 1912, the last wild boar died in the Giza Zoo, the largest zoological garden in Egypt, and although the animals were again brought from Hungary for resettlement, wild pigs again became victims of poachers.

In the same way, in the 18th - 19th century wild boars disappeared from a number of Scandinavian countries, from many regions of the former republics of the USSR, Japan and Great Britain. In the 60s of the last century, many countries began to revive the population of wild pigs, and despite the dramatic decline in the number of past years, today the range of the wild boar is the largest among relatives and one of the widest among all land mammals.

Wild boars live in Eurasia and North Africa, in Russia they are found in most of the European territory, with the exception of the taiga regions and the coldest regions of the tundra. Boars are omnivores and their diet is extremely varied. But there are boars with a highly specialized diet: for example, wild boars of the island of Java are absolute vegetarians, they eat about 50 types of fruit trees. Wild pigs living in Kazakhstan and the Volga Delta, on the contrary, sit on a fish diet, eating a large amount of roach and carp.

A well-fed adult boar is rarely attacked even by wolves, tigers and leopards, so the main enemy of a wild pig is still a man. Wild boars are very attached to their feeding territories and hunters are well aware of this, so it is not difficult to track down and drive a wild boar, especially with dogs.

Where do boars live

The favorite habitats of wild boars are wet swampy forests, shrubs, and in Asia - reeds, from where animals are scared and hunted, chasing on horseback. Wild pigs are quite clumsy, but in case of danger they reach speeds of up to 40 km / h. In another case, an alarmed boar can throw itself into the water and, if necessary, swim a huge distance.

When the boars are safe, they are busy looking for food. Wild pigs are social animals, they live in herds consisting of several dozen females with piglets and young males. Herds of the European population in some cases reach hundreds of heads. Old boars keep to themselves and come to the herd only during the mating season. Wild boars live sedentary and in search of food move only within the territory of the herd.

Snout, fangs and hooves - the tools of the "labor" of the boar

The basis of the diet of most wild pigs is plant foods, and what wild boars eat, they get from the forest floor. Powerful apron legs with strong hooves and a long snout, which ends in a hard cartilaginous formation - a patch, help animals dig the ground.

An important role in obtaining food is played by fangs sticking up, strongly developed in males. They also serve as protection for the boar: with their sharp fangs, the boar inflicts serious lacerations on inexperienced hunters. Females that do not have such a formidable weapon knock the offenders off their feet and violently beat with powerful hooves, especially when it comes to protecting offspring.

Loosening large tracts of land by wild boars brings great benefits to the forest. By digging up the tubers and rhizomes of plants, wild pigs plant the seeds of trees in the soil, and along the way they eat the larvae of insect pests, such as the cockchafer and pine moth.

In wild boars living in regions with a pronounced change of seasons, the diet varies greatly depending on the season.

What do wild boars eat in summer

It is very rare to meet a boar on a fine summer day. Animals with thick bristly skin are extremely sensitive to temperature changes and to maintain thermoregulation, wild boars often wallow in the mud. This is by no means a bad habit, but a way to maintain a certain body temperature and protect against sunburn and insect bites.

In summer, wild boars dig wide pits up to 40 cm deep, where they rest during the day as a whole herd, and at dusk they go out for swimming, taking mud baths and looking for food.

The basis of the wild boar's summer diet is tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, shoots and leaves of plants. Interestingly, wild pigs eat underground and aboveground parts. poisonous plants without harm to health and are not afraid snake venom. Another 3 species of animals have the same rare feature: representatives of the mongoose family, honey badgers and real hedgehogs.

Often insects and their larvae become the prey of the wild boar, earthworms, small rodents, hedgehogs, frogs and lizards. Wild pigs do not disdain carrion, moreover, at any time of the year. As the crop matures, the diet of the wild boar also changes.

What do wild boars eat in autumn

In harvest years, nuts and acorns become the main autumn delicacy of wild boars - a hearty food rich in proteins and fats. Ripe ears of wheat, other grain crops and corn are eaten with pleasure by wild boars on agricultural land, in some places causing irreparable damage to the crop.

In autumn, in places with a high number of wild boars, fruit and vegetable plantations, both public and private, are especially affected. A small family of wild boars can devastate plantings of turnips, potatoes, other root crops and leafy vegetables overnight, leaving behind empty beds. Although purely human boars can be understood, because the animals are preparing for a long winter, besides, piglets born in the spring must become well-fed before the onset of cold weather.

What do wild boars eat in winter

Boar females bring offspring once a year, in a litter there are from 4 to 12 cubs, which the mother feeds with milk for 3.5 months. A newborn piglet weighs from 650 to 1650 g, and by autumn, due to increased nutrition, it gains weight up to 20-30 kg, and if it does not become prey to a predator, it will definitely survive the winter.

The underground parts of plants still remain in the winter diet of a wild pig: an adult boar is able to dig frozen ground to a depth of 17 cm. Boars have an excellent memory and they return to oak and walnut groves in search of fruits covered with snow. Along the banks of the swamps, animals look for frozen horsetail in the snow, rich in carbohydrates and sugars.

Often the food of wild boars is the remnants of the meal of predators; in the years of starvation, wild pigs are content with shoots and tree bark. A meager diet is not able to satisfy hunger, and then wild boars become dangerous for other inhabitants of the forest, attacking hares and small rodents. A hungry boar preys even on large animals - wild goats, fallow deer and deer, but only on young, wounded or weak ones.

In places with a low number of wild boars, huntsmen feed them, leaving briquettes of bone meal, cake and root crops in the forest.

Not all wild boars survive until spring, unfortunately, hunting and winter fasting greatly reduce the number of wild pigs in some regions. In addition, from November to January, wild boars go into rut with fierce fights between males, and wounded animals rarely survive.

What do wild boars eat in spring

With the advent of spring, emaciated animals, especially pregnant females, are happy with any available food: awakened insects and their larvae, rodents that have appeared on the surface, sprouted acorns and plant rhizomes that can be dug up from a considerable depth.

Buds begin to bloom, fresh grass breaks through and the wild boars gradually begin to gain weight, the females are preparing for childbirth. In the middle of spring, eggs and chicks of birds nesting on the ground become a special delicacy for the wild boar. Summer is coming, and with it the fertile time for hearty night meals.

With the right combination of circumstances, wild boars live for about 14 years, and in captivity and conservation areas, wild pigs can live up to 20 years.

Video about wild boars

Wild boars and piglets in the city A family of wild boars with a brood wandered into the Polish city of Krynica Morska. They feel confident, as if they live here.