Wild boar: forest dweller

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

Cleaver boar, boar, wild pig - all these are the names of one species of animals, widespread on Earth. Its habitat is extensive, it occupies the entire European continent, extending in the north to Scandinavia, and in Asia to the Far Eastern regions and Transbaikalia.

They are found everywhere, up to the tropical zones of the continents, as well as in Sumatra, Java, New Guinea and other islands. Not so long ago, the wild boar inhabited vast North African territories, but as a result of barbarian hunting, the species was completely destroyed. Today, its populations migrate to parts of Argentina, Central and North America. This article will tell about the life of this animal, its habits and preferences.

Features of the species

The billhook, whose photo is shown, is a mammal of the non-ruminant suborder of the pig family, which is the ancestor of the domestic pig. Today, more than 25 subspecies of boars are known, but all of them are united by the typical appearance of the animal: a massive wedge-shaped head with wide pointed ears, a snout ending in a patch and small eyes. Depending on the subspecies, the length of its bodyvaries from 1.3 to 1.8 m, height - 0.5-1 m, and weight - from 60 to 170 kg. From time to time, cases of the appearance of powerful individuals are recorded, the weight of which reaches 250-275 kg.

Of course, this is a huge billhook - an animal with incredible strength and a frightening appearance. Experienced hunters often embellish the size of their trophies. Nevertheless, in November last year, the media reported on the appearance of a real giant in the Ural region - a boar weighing more than half a ton and 2 meters high at the withers. If this is true, then this is the largest billhook.

Wool

The body of a wild boar is covered with dense, hard and elastic bristles, which become longer in winter with the onset of cold weather. In addition, a warm underfur grows, which warms the boar in cold weather. Along the ridge on the back, the hair fits into a crest, which is invisible in a calm state and stands on end when danger arises. The color of the animal is different - gray, black or earthy brown. Piglets often have caricature-striped coloration, but it is this color that saves them in the colorful undergrowth.

Lifestyle

Wild boar adapts to life in a variety of places - both in the impenetrable wilds of the Siberian taiga, and in tropical rain forests. It is found in deserts and mountainous areas. European beech and oak forests, interspersed with meadows and swamps, are especially loved by these animals. They do not bypass the Caucasus with its fruit and nut groves. The wild boar migrates along the valleys of mountain rivers, completely covered with shrubs. ATareas of the Far East, he prefers cedar forests and mixed forests. Getting food, the wild boar constantly roams from place to place. In summer, he can walk up to 8 kilometers per day, in winter the duration of the transition depends on the amount of snow and its density.

For example, a snow cover height of 30-40 cm is critical for an animal, since it has short paws, and a packed one will injure the animal's legs. Often in difficult years, when there is little natural food, wild boars raid agricultural areas.

Wild boars are careful, they rest in the thickets of bushes, laying down in the summer on the forest floor, under rocks or in the shade of trees. In winter, they make nests of branches, needles, moss or rags in places protected by tree crowns. From here they go out in search of food and eat whatever they find. But this omnivorousness does not prevent them from having food preferences.

What do wild pigs eat

Treats for boars are tubers and rhizomes of plants, which they extract by breaking the soil with their snouts. Note that the snout of a wild boar is a unique tool that provides an excellent sense of smell and is a means of obtaining food, because more than ¾ of all prey it finds with its help. During the day, a large wild boar is able to eat about 6 kg of feed. In summer and autumn, the wild boar's diet is diversified with berries, nuts, various seeds, and in winter, in conditions of lack of food, it is content with the bark of trees and shrubs.

Boars do not disdain small reptiles,lizards, worms, rodents and even carrion. In different areas, boars eat differently, eating the food that is available. The size of the habitat also depends on the availability of food and the degree of its availability.

Reproduction

From November to January, the mating season or rut begins for wild boars: males look for females and often arrange fights, inflicting very noticeable damage to each other. By the end of the mating season, they lose up to 20% in weight. Young females reach sexual maturity at 1.5-2 years of age, males at 4.5-5 years.

The female bears offspring for a little over 4 months, on average 130 days, farrowing occurs in the spring. Young females bring 5-6 piglets in a litter, old ones - 8-12 each. Before farrowing, they arrange comfortable nests, insulated on all sides and covered with dry grass, small twigs and twigs. Piglets born in the first week do not leave the nest, and mother pigs take care of them and feed them every 3-4 hours, and although they periodically leave in search of food, they return to the babies at night. After 7-10 days, the piglets leave the nest and accompany the mother everywhere, hiding in the grass or windfall when the slightest danger arises.

From the age of two weeks, they begin to learn to dig. The feeding period lasts up to 3.5 months.

The use of boars in reforestation

The amazing ability of wild pigs to constantly dig is very useful in reforestation. Loosening huge areas of the soil layer, the wild boar helps to close up the seeds of a variety ofplants. In the process of digging, wild boars find and eat many forest pests, insects and larvae, significantly reducing their numbers and suppressing vigorous activity.