The Wild Boar
Sus scrofa

Its weight is extremely variable depending on its age and trophic availability.
The fur is dark and consists of stiff bristles, its snout is conical and its legs are relatively short.
Its skin is very thick and not very vascularised and these qualities protect the boar from wounds and infections during its movements in the Mediterranean shrublands as well as from bites from vipers.
The males, especially during the period leading up to the mating season (usually from October to November), have a thick layer of fat (its armour) protecting its flanks which serves as an energy reserve to be used during the mating season when boars eat very little and as a defence against attacks from the enemies who usually strike with their heads.
It is a wild pig of aggressive behaviour – its tusks not only help it to dig but also to fight.
It is an omnivore and its diet is extremely versatile – it can feed on roots, acorns and other plants as well as insects and small animals.
The females dig burrows in the ground and camouflage them with shrubs and plants.
The piglets are born between February and March in litters of 2 to 4 but can reach up to 8 in good years.
After 1-2 years the males leave their mothers and reach adulthood.
The social structure is essentially formed by groups of sows, juveniles of a year old and newborn piglets.
Males of about two years old leave the sounder to join smaller sounders or conduct a solitary life until the start of the mating season.
In wood environments the presence of wild boars is positive – indeed the boars’ continuous digging in search of food buries seeds and eliminates harmful insects thus favouring the development of the wood.
However the diminution of its habitat has pushed the wild boar into farmlands where it feeds on grains, fruits of trees or grapes.