Wild boar populations have expanded dramatically across Europe, creating agricultural conflicts managed through hunting and culling with significant welfare implications.
Wild boar management welfare concerns center on the methods used. Driven hunts with dogs cause pursuit stress and wounding injuries. Night shooting by skilled hunters can be welfare-positive if shots are placed correctly. Snaring and trapping cause prolonged distress and injury. The expanding boar population is driven partly by range expansion due to climate warming and forest regeneration, and partly by the decline of traditional predators like wolves. The welfare-optimal management approach — precision shooting by trained hunters with rapid follow-up of wounded animals — is available but requires investment in training and accountability standards.