Wild boar populations are expanding across Europe and North America, creating management challenges that raise significant welfare questions about culling methods and human-wildlife conflict.
Wild boar management sits at the intersection of agriculture, conservation, and animal welfare. Lethal control through hunting and culling remains the dominant approach, but the welfare implications depend heavily on the method used and the skill of those implementing it. High-velocity rifle shots to the head or heart minimize suffering, while poorly placed shots or the use of dogs in boar hunts can cause considerable pain and distress. Non-lethal approaches including exclusion fencing, hazing, and contraception are gaining interest but face practical limitations at scale. A welfare-centered approach to wild boar management requires setting clear humaneness standards and enforcing them.