Facts about the animal kingdom

What Do Wild Boars Eat?

 
Nick A. Romero
By Nick A. Romero, Biologist and environmental educator. February 1, 2022
What Do Wild Boars Eat?

In the suidae family are several species of animals commonly known as pigs and wild boars. In the latter family, the wild boar sus scrofa is usually referred to as a pig. There are other species that are referred to this way, such as the desert warthog ( Phacochoerus aethiopicus ) and the common warthog ( Phacochoerus africanus ), among others. The species may be indigenous to Europe, Asia or Africa; s. scrofa, meanwhile, is native to both the first and second continents. Its wide distribution, however, makes it a cosmopolitan species.

In this article AnimalWised article, we will tell you more about what wild boars eat both as babies and as adults.

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Contents
  1. The type of food wild boars consume
  2. What do baby boars eat?
  3. What do adult boars eat?

The type of food wild boars consume

The Eurasian wild boar or Sus scrofa can live in a wide variety of habitats, from semi-desert to jungle to reed beds in tropical environments. African wild boars Potamochoerus larvatus, also known as bush pigs, are native to Africa and have a preference for densely vegetated environments at various altitudes. Other warthogs, however, have a more specialized habitat. The Desert Warthog lives in semi-arid areas, while the Common Warthog inhabits savannahs, scrub, and forests.

We can tell how diverse wild boar's diet is by looking at the variety of habitats they live in, and in this sense wild boar's diet may include:

  • Omnivorous: There are two species of wild boars which have an entirely omnivorous diet: S. scrofa and P. larvatus and feed of plants and small animals. If you wish to know more about what does it mean to be omnivorous, then do not miss out on this article about omnivorous animals.
  • Herbivores: Some species eat mainly plants and consume animals only occasionally, such is the case of the common warthog. To know more about what animals are herbivorous and what do they feed on, then keep reading this article on herbivorous animals.

What do baby boars eat?

As mammals, baby wild boars feed on their mother's milk when they are young. Common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) usually begin eating other foods at about six months of age, although they leave their burrows until they are six or seven weeks old. In addition, young warthogs may consume their mothers' feces.

Females of the wild boar (Potamochoerus larvatus) nurse their young for about two to four months. Unlike the common warthdog, where males do not provide parental care, males from this species bring their young to areas where they feed. In fact, it is common for this species to lose some young when there are large groups and competing for food. Most baby wild boars are weaned between the eighth and twelfth week.

Wild pigs can sometimes wreak havoc on cropland in search of food. This has resulted in many of their young being killed or left without their mother.

What Do Wild Boars Eat? - What do baby boars eat?

What do adult boars eat?

Here is a sampling of what adult wild boars eat from the species we have discussed in this article:

Warthog (Phacochoerus)

Accordingly, this species consumes primarily herbivorous diets, which may include the following:

  • Herbs
  • Estates
  • Shrubs
  • Fruits
  • Bulbs
  • Tubers
  • Insects and carrion (only if there is a shortage of other food)
  • Manure

Bushpig (Potamochoerus larvatus)

This species is omnivorous and consumes a wide variety of foods, incuding :

  • Estates
  • Rhizomes
  • Tubers
  • Onions
  • Fruits
  • Insect larvae
  • Invertebrates
  • Small vertebrates
  • carrion

Wild boar (Sus scrofa)

This species is omnivores, adapting their diet based on availability and time of year, which could include:

  • Green plants
  • Field crops
  • Walnuts
  • Fruits
  • Property
  • Small rodents
  • Small calves and lambs
  • Bird eggs
  • Insects worms
  • Carrion

In general, wild boars are very active in foraging, which they do in their groups. To get to their plant food, they dig it up with their snouts and fangs if necessary.

These animals are not to blame for being in areas that are now used for cultivation or where there are houses. Therefore, at AnimalWised we advocate that if it is necessary to scare them away to prevent them from doing harm, it should be done by methods that do not result in mistreatment or death in any way, since there are various ways to drive them away that guarantee their well-being.

What Do Wild Boars Eat? - What do adult boars eat?

If you want to read similar articles to What Do Wild Boars Eat?, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category.

Bibliography
  • Carter, N. (2006). " Potamochoerus larvatus ". Animal Diversity Web. Available at: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Potamochoerus_larvatus/
  • Creel, E. (2005). " Phacochoerus africanus ". Animal Diversity Web. Available at: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Phacochoerus_africanus/
  • Winkelstern, I. (2009). " Phacochoerus aethiopicus ". Animal Diversity Web. Available at: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Phacochoerus_aethiopicus/
  • Wickline, K. (2014). " Sus scrofa ". Animal Diversity Web. Available at: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sus_scrofa/
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What Do Wild Boars Eat?