Wild boar increasingly present in french communes: what to do if you see one

THERE HAS BEEN A SHARP RISE IN THE NUMBER OF BOAR IN RECENT YEARS Wild boar are becoming a more common sight in villages and towns in France, with local officials, farmers, and residents

increasingly seeking methods to deter them and protect land and property. Boar can cause serious damage to crops and private gardens, as well as rummaging in bins and presenting a small risk

to humans. The issue can mainly be blamed on a soaring wild boar population, said animal and bird protection league the LPO.  Some experts also say that human activity is prompting the

rise, partly as a result of the spread of agricultural land replacing what was previously forest. Read also: Why are wild boar now a common sight in French towns?  Read more: Why are there

more boar in France - and will it continue?  French hunting website Le Chasseur Français states that the number of wild boars in France has risen from 50,000 in 1980 to more than 800,000 in

2020, according to figures from French biodiversity office l’Office francais de la biodiversité (OFB). The website also claims that “80% of annual agricultural damage is attributable to wild

boar”. “Their population has increased twentyfold since 1970,” said Gaël Lechapt, a naturalist in Saint-Malo, to Ouest France, saying that the most recent figures from national hunting

federation La Federation Française de Chasse show that “there are more than a million wild boar in the country” today. "With milder winters, female wild boar have one more litter,” said

Mr Lechapt. ‘[Plus] with the increase in corn and rapeseed fields, the animals can feed and hide at the same time.” A sow can give birth to five or six piglets per litter, and have more

than one litter per season, as the animals’ gestation period is only around three-four months. Hotter summers can also mean that wild boar may be more likely to approach houses looking for

food and water, out of hunger and thirst. Read also: Wild boar approach homes in south of France from hunger and thirst  WHAT TO DO IF YOU COME ACROSS A BOAR It is very rare that a boar will

attack or injure humans but there have been some incidents of this in France in recent years. For example, in December 2023, a jogger was charged while in the countryside near Plesder, a

small town between Rennes and Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine). She managed to escape by jumping over a fence. Similarly, in the Orne department in November, two people were injured after their

vehicle collided with a boar. In January this year, a young couple lodged a complaint with the local hunting federation and gendarmerie after they were attacked and badly injured by a

distressed wild boar that was being chased by a pack of hunting dogs on Saturday near Millau (Aveyron). Read more: Walkers injured by wild boar launch legal action against hunters in

south-west France Read also: What to do if you cross a boar while out walking in France?  Mr Lechapt has some advice on what to do if you come across a wild boar: * Stay calm * Keep all dogs

on leads and avoid them from getting close or startling the boar * Avoid turning your back on the boar * Do not take any photos with flash * Do not run, as this could cause the animal to

panic and charge * Aim to let the animal pass without making any sudden movements * If the animal does charge, try to get higher up - e.g. on a rock or a tree/hedge * If you cannot do this,

backing up against a tree is the next best move “If there is a rock or tree nearby, you can stick close to it and let the wild boar pass,” he said.  "Wild boars are more afraid of you

than you are of them. A wild boar will never attack for fun. If it does attack, it is probably either injured, cornered, scared, or a female protecting her young.” HOW TO AVOID BOAR Hunting

parties can startle boars, causing them to charge through forests regardless of how you act towards them. If you live in an area popular with hunters, contact your department’s hunting

department (fédération de chasse) to find when hunts are taking place. On these days, avoid areas in which you would expect to encounter boar. Read more: Hunting season opens in many areas

of France: what's good to know Read also: How can I keep wild boar away from my property?  Also ensure that your bins are secure, you have put up strong fences, and never feed the

boars.