Taxonomy
Sus scrofa | Wild Boar | Torc
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Least Concern
Legal status
Third Schedule listed species under Regulations 49 & 50 in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. (Note: Regulation 50 not yet enacted).
Native status
Non-native
Currently there is no evidence of Wild boar/pig in the
fossil records from before humans arrived to Ireland about 9,600 years ago so
it is unclear if they are native or not to Ireland (Carden, 2012). However, Wild boar are a
direct ancestor to the domestic pig which it can hybridise and from genetic
analysis of 15 feral pigs shot in Ireland between 2009 and 2012, the majority
belong to the domestic pig category with just three individuals classified as
hybrids with Wild boar (McDevitt et al., 2013).
First reported in the wild
2009
Invasiveness
Invasive species - risk of High Impact
Irish status
Present in the wild
Introduction pathways - 1
Release in Nature
Introduction pathways subclass - 1
Hunting
Introduction pathways - 2
Escape from Confinement
Invasive score
21
NAPRA Ireland risk assessed
Yes. This species underwent a Non-native species APplication based Risk Analysis in 2014.
Overall risk of this species to Ireland is categorised as: MAJOR with a MEDIUM level of confidence.
Excerpt from overall conclusion summary: The species is likely to be introduced to and/or encounter suitable habitat within the Irish landscape. Its favoured habitat of forest and scrubland, which constitutes about 10% of the Irish land cover, is most endangered to invasion. Sus scrofa at high densities may cause damage to agriculture and natural habitats, threaten native species. Of most concern is the potential for the species to carry diseases which can affect domestic (and wild) animals or humans (Barrios-Garcia and Ballari, 2012).
View the full risk assessment: http://nonnativespecies.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sus-scrofa-Wildboar_Feral-Pig_Hybrids.pdf
Species Biology
Identification
This description relates to the Feral pig/Wild boar hybrids recorded in Ireland since 2009.
Most animals
recorded have a typical Wild boar appearance of a medium-large body (shoulder
height about 700mm) with relatively short legs, a large head with a long snout,
small erect ears and a straight tail tassled at the tip. They have a coarse coat, dark brown to black
underneath with lighter ends to the hairs and a mane of bristles extending from
the neck to the middle of the back. Some
animals have a more reddish appearance indicating they may be Tamworth/Iron-age
pig hybrids. Piglets have pale
longitudinal stripes on their body until they are about 6 weeks of age. Adults can weigh up to 300kg but more typical
weights are around 100kg for males and 75kg for females.
Wild boar description as in Goulding et al. 2008: Even toed ungulate (herbivorous mammals with hooves rather than claws). Large shoulders tapering to a shorter rump, large head with small ears held erect, long narrow snout, tusks in males >2 years old, straight tail. Sexual dimorphism (male larger than female), side toes almost as large as central toes (tracks), coarse hair, piglets have a characteristic coat of brown and cream stripe .
Diet
Omnivorous, though largely herbivorous, they have a highly adaptable diet and will eat acorns, herbs, seeds, fruits, ferns, insects, small mammals, eggs and chicks of ground-nesting birds, amphibians and carrion (Carden et al., 2012; Goulding et al., 2008).
Ecology
Generally, Feral
pig are nocturnal animals resting during the day in dense vegetation. They are fast runners but usually trot from
one foraging area to another and then slow to a walk. The extent of its
foraging range home range is highly variable and is dependent on food
availability.
Smell is by far the most advanced of the pig's senses and although they are
omnivorous eating both plant and animals, their diet is largely herbivorous
(90%).
Both sexes normally reach sexual maturity in the first year of life but female feral pigs usually do not breed before 18 months of age and males tend not to achieve reproductive success until they are fully grown. While Feral pig are a sociable animals forming herds comprising of one or more females and their litter, adult males lead solitary lives outside the breeding season, which is generally Spring in Ireland but dependant to food availability and climatic factors. Females leave the group to nest and give birth. Litters usually consist of between 3 and 12 young and females generally produce one or two litters each season throughout their reproductive lives. Young are weaned in 3-4 months and often leave their mother before the next litter if the mother produces multiple litters in a breeding season. Feral pig are expected to live up to 10-14 years in the wild where they are not hunted. There are no natural predators of feral pigs in Ireland except for humans.
In Iberia, wild boar are one of the principle reservoirs of bovine TB (Beck et al., 2012) and as the 'wild boar' illegally introduced to the wild in Ireland may not have undergone veterinary screening they may carry additional diseases. The damage to the agricultural economy of Europe by wild boar estimated to be in excess of €80 million per year (Reimoser & Putman 2011).
Habitat
Woodland, forest and other wooded land; Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural or domestic habitat
Reproduction
Polyoestrous females (fertile more than once a year), give birth to litters of 6-10 piglets, with approximately at 50% mortality rate (ISGD, 2005). On Santa Catalina Island in California, females produce 5 young every 0.86 of a year but piglets had a mortality rate of 58% (Baber and Coblentz 1986, in Wolf and Conover 2003).
Pathway and vector description
Due to the widespread range of records in Ireland there has clearly been a number of releases of wild boar hybrids/feral pig in Ireland. The reason for the introduction is unknown, it may be to establish a population for hunting or as part of an attempt to reintroduce the species to Ireland.
Mechanism of impact
Competition, Disease transmission, Grazing/Herbivory/Browsing, Rooting/Digging, Other
Broad environment
Terrestrial
Habitat description
Woodland species but they will emerge to feed on adjacent agricultural land, rooting crops such as sugar beet, potatoes and maize (Goulding et al., 2008).
Species group
Vertebrate
Native region
Europe
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Irish distribution
Present in the Wild - Rare.
Verified sightings of Feral pig in Ireland have a scattered distribution with no verified sightings in Northern Ireland. Most sightings are in upland areas and are thought to be escaped or released animals. A group of 7 animals recorded on Foynes Island (Co. Limerick) in 2014 is believed to have been a deliberate release.
Native distribution
Native to most of Europe and Asia. Possibly native to Ireland, however this has not been established due to the difficulties in distinguishing wild boar from domestic pigs in fossil remains (Carden, 2012).
Temporal change
Date of first record category
2001-2010
Fifty year date category
2001-2050
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2023
The following map is interactive. If you would prefer to view it full screen then click here.
How can you help
Report any sightings to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
Further information
Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the SSC- Species Survival Commission of the IUCN -International Union for Conservation Nature 100 Worst Invaders globally.
There has been some debate over whether the 'Wild boar' populations in Ireland are the reintroduction of a native species rather than an alien invasive species. However genetic analysis has revealed that the 'wild boar' in Ireland are of ‘domestic pig’ genetic cluster (McDevitt et al., 2012).
References
Publications
Baber, D. W., and B. E. Coblentz. 1986. Density, home range, habitat use, and reproduction in feral pigs on Santa Catalina, Island. Journal of Mammalogy 67: 512-525.
Barrios-Garcia, M. N., & Ballari, S. A. (2012). Impact of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in its introduced and native range: a review. Biological Invasions, 14(11), 2283-2300.
Beltrán-Beck, B., Ballesteros, C., Vicente, J., De la Fuente, J., & Gortázar, C. (2012). Progress in oral vaccination against tuberculosis in its main wildlife reservoir in Iberia, the Eurasian wild boar. Veterinary Medicine International, 2012.
Carden, R.F. (2012) Review of the Natural History of Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) on the island of Ireland. Report prepared by Ruth Carden for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Northern Ireland, UK, National Parks & Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin, Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland – Education & Outreach Department.
Genov, P. V., & Massei, G. (2004). The environmental impact of wild boar. Galemys: Boletín informativo de la Sociedad Española para la conservación y estudio de los mamíferos, 16(1), 135-145.
Goulding, M., Kitchener, A.C. & Yalden, D. W. (2008) Order Artiodactyla (Even-Toed Ungulates) Family Suidae (Pigs) Genus Sus Wild boar Sus scrofa In: Mammals of the British Isles : Handbook, 4th edition Harris, S. & Yalden, D.W. (eds) The Mammal Society, UK.
Global Invasive Species Database, 2005. Sus scrofa [Online].
Mcdevitt, A. D., Carden, R. F., Coscia, I. & Franitz, A. C. 2013. Are wild boars roaming Ireland once more? European Journal of Wildlife Research, 59, 761-764.
Reimoser, F, & Putman, R. (2011). Impacts of wild ungulates on vegetation: costs and benefits. In: Ungulate management in Europe: problems and practices (Eds) Putman R, Apollonio M, Andersen R. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 144-191.
Wolf, T., and M. R. Conover. 2003. Feral pigs and the environment: an annotated bibliography. Berryman Institute Publication 21, Utah State University, Logan; Mississippi State University, Starkville.
Relevant links
Global Invasive Species Database
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Policy Position Statement on Wild Boar (Susscrofa) and hybrids in Ireland and Northern Ireland