Wild boar populations are expanding into urban and peri-urban areas across Europe and beyond, creating conflict and debate about lethal and non-lethal management approaches.
Wild boar management raises welfare questions at both the individual and social group level. Boar live in matriarchal family groups and young boar are dependent on adults for an extended period. Culling adults leaves dependent young that may starve. Snaring and trapping cause prolonged suffering compared to immediate death from accurate rifle shooting. Urban boar are often killed in stressful circumstances. However, non-lethal management is sometimes insufficient and conflict with agriculture and human safety requires some management response. Welfare-conscious management should prioritise accurate, quick-killing methods and consider the social structure of boar populations.