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 as their population soars in France
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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?
Le Chasseur Fran莽ais 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鈥橭ffice francais de la biodiversit茅 (OFB).
The website also claims that 鈥�80% of annual agricultural damage is attributable to wild boar鈥�.
鈥淭heir population has increased twentyfold since 1970,鈥� said Ga毛l Lechapt, a naturalist in Saint-Malo, , saying that the most recent figures from national hunting federation La Federation Fran莽aise de Chasse show that 鈥渢here are more than a million wild boar in the country鈥� today.
"With milder winters, female wild boar have one more litter,鈥� said Mr Lechapt. 鈥榌Plus] with the increase in corn and rapeseed fields, the animals can feed and hide at the same time.鈥�
A sow can give birth to five or six piglets per litter, and have more than one litter per season, as the animals鈥� 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
鈥淚f there is a rock or tree nearby, you can stick close to it and let the wild boar pass,鈥� 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.鈥�
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鈥檚 hunting department (f茅d茅ration 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.
