# Wild Boar (*Sus scrofa*)

> The wild boar is the ancestor of domestic pigs, a sturdy omnivore with sharp tusks found across Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and introduced to the Americas and Oceania. Boars root up soil for food, weigh up to 200 kg, and live in matriarchal groups called sounders.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Native across Europe, temperate Asia, and North Africa; introduced to the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and many islands where feral populations thrive.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/wild-boar/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Suidae
- **Genus:** Sus

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Sus scrofa |
| Diet | Omnivore — roots, acorns, insects, carrion, and small animals |
| Habitat | Forests, farmland, and scrub across Eurasia and introduced ranges |
| Lifespan | 10–14 years in the wild |
| Weight | 50–200 kg (110–440 lb); males larger |
| Top speed | Up to 40 km/h (25 mph) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Rooting and diet

Wild boars dig with their snouts for roots, tubers, and invertebrates, aerating soil but sometimes damaging crops. Acorn mast in autumn builds fat reserves. They are opportunistic omnivores that also take small vertebrates and carrion.

## Tusks and temperament

Continuously growing lower canines form prominent tusks in males, used in dominance fights and defence. Sows with piglets are protective. Boars are largely nocturnal in hunted areas and more diurnal where undisturbed.

## Global spread

Native across much of Eurasia and North Africa, wild boars were introduced to the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand, where they become invasive pests damaging agriculture and outcompeting native species.

## Conservation and management

Globally Least Concern, wild boars are locally managed through hunting and fencing because of crop damage and disease concerns such as African swine fever. In their native range they remain a keystone prey species for wolves and tigers.

## Frequently asked questions

### Wild boar vs pig?

Domestic pigs descend from wild boars but are bred for size, temperament, and meat. Wild boars are leaner, bristlier, and have straighter tusks.

### Are wild boars dangerous?

They usually flee, but wounded boars or sows with piglets can charge. Keep distance in the wild and never approach piglets.

### Where did wild boars come from?

Eurasia and North Africa. Humans introduced them elsewhere for hunting, and escapees established feral populations.

### What do wild boars eat?

Mostly plant material — roots, nuts, fruit, and crops — plus insects, worms, and carrion when available.

### Why are wild boars considered invasive?

In places like Texas and Australia, introduced boars reproduce quickly, root up land, and compete with native wildlife, prompting extensive control programmes.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Sus scrofa.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Sus%20scrofa&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Sus scrofa. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sus_scrofa/)
- [Wikipedia — Wild Boar.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_boar)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/wild-boar/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.