About Wild Boar
The term wild boar (when used in the United States) describes two different types of pigs. One is the wild or feral male pig that has been in America since the 14th century, brought by the Spanish. The other is an introduced species, the European wild boar, that was first let loose in America in the 1800s as a game animal. Over the years, the two species have intermingled and crossbred, with it being difficult to now distinguish the two types apart. Wild boars are a formidable foe, as they have razor-sharp tusks and a tough hide. They are hunted for sport in many states.
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Geography
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The European wild boar was brought to forests all over the United States to be hunted. Populations were introduced in New England, Texas and California, to name just a few areas. The largest numbers of wild boar live in Texas, with as many as two million of them roaming loose. The southern states have the highest amount of wild boar, but there are pockets of them found throughout the U.S., including Hawaii. They have been known to be a problem to farmers, as they will break down fences and forage among the crops they can gain access to--a habit that has had them labeled as an invasive species in some regions.
Size
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The typical wild boar will have a body that is between three and a half to five feet in length. They can weigh as much as 400 pounds, with larger specimens on record. They average around 180 pounds, with the females smaller than the males. They resemble domesticated pigs in body shape, except that the wild boar tends to be slimmer in the hip area and have more bulk in the shoulders. The wild boar is also taller than most pigs found on a farm.
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Identification
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The canine teeth of the wild boar are much more developed than those of a domestic hog. The male's canines will grow into a set of fearsome tusks that are sharp on three sides and used for defense when needed. The skin of the wild boar is very thick and covered with coarse bristle-like hair. The wild boar ranges in color from black to gray to brownish and they often have a hint of white on their faces. Wild boar have excellent hearing and a great sense of smell but their eyesight, although not terrible, is not as strong as their other senses.
Diet
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The wild boar will eat a large variety of foods; it is classified as an omnivore. Where it lives depends on the availability of food and they will stay in an area if food is plentiful. In the spring and summer months, wild boar will indulge in berries, apples, roots, herbs, insects, snakes and lizards, small mammals, carrion and even crayfish. As autumn approaches, they like to eat whatever nuts are on the ground, from hickory nuts to acorns. In the winter they will root for whatever they can find that is edible. The wild boar will travel far and wide during the course of a day in search of food and are usually active in the daytime.
Habits
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Wild boar enjoy wallowing in the mud and do so to stay cool when it is hot and to keep pests at bay. They will also rub themselves on small trees to relieve itching, and will sharpen their tusks on them as well. The wild boar can breed as early as one year old, with the female having anywhere from 1 to 14 piglets in a litter. The young are born anytime from December through March, with another litter capable of being produced in the early summer months. Wild boar travel in herds of as many as two dozen, called sounders. These are comprised mostly of sows and the young, with the males joining in only during mating season. Predators of the wild boar include bobcats and cougars along with bear, coyotes and large birds of prey such as eagles and owls. These birds will target the piglets.
Warning
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The tusks of the wild boar are used when they are cornered to slash and cut up an attacker. Wild boar are hunted in the U.S.; many of them are hunted with dogs that track them and then keep them pinned in an area until the hunter arrives. Both the males and females have tusks they they use to keep themselves or their young from harm. These teeth can easily tear flesh and maim a person or another boar, which is common when they fight amongst themselves over females and territory.
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Resources
- Photo Credit www.wildboarbook.com
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Comments
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Wild Boar do not have "razor sharp" tusks. Sure they come to a point, but there is very little found in nature that is "razor sharp"...run your finger over a razor blade a few times, and then do the same to the tusk of a boar. I'm sure you'll find a lot less blood during the second task..as in none. The term razor sharp is tossed around so loosely with animals that it often gives a false portrayal of the animal. Whether it's about the tusks, the teeth, antlers, horns, etc, only during very few instances, if any, is this true. The reason these things that are labeled "razor sharp" are so dangerous has less to do with the edge on them and more to do with the muscles that are used to control where they slash at. A boar has incredible strong neck and back muscles. Their tusks could be shaped like turkey basters and they would still rip you right open. So in essence, the only thing that makes the tusks a true danger is the boar itself..the same tusks on any lesser animal, such as a dog, would be unmeasurably less effective.
