Symmetry of Wild Boar Damage to Agricultural Crops: Results of over 20 Years of Damage Monitoring in Central Europe

This study analyzed 9871 cases of wild boar damage recorded over more than 20 years using a consistent methodology in a 5000-hectare area with minimal changes in crop structure. This allowed for a reliable assessment of seasonal damage dynamics. Wild boar exhibited seasonal feeding preferences: gras...

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Main Authors: Paweł Nasiadka, Daniel Klich, Wanda Olech, Maria Sobczuk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1587
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author Paweł Nasiadka
Daniel Klich
Wanda Olech
Maria Sobczuk
author_facet Paweł Nasiadka
Daniel Klich
Wanda Olech
Maria Sobczuk
author_sort Paweł Nasiadka
collection DOAJ
description This study analyzed 9871 cases of wild boar damage recorded over more than 20 years using a consistent methodology in a 5000-hectare area with minimal changes in crop structure. This allowed for a reliable assessment of seasonal damage dynamics. Wild boar exhibited seasonal feeding preferences: grasses in spring, cereals in summer, legumes in early autumn, and root crops in late autumn. A bimodal pattern of damage was identified, comprising three types. The <i>rare and severe</i> pattern occurred in spring when the wild boar population at its lowest size caused infrequent but highly damaging events, mainly in meadows. The <i>frequent and weak</i> pattern appeared in late summer and autumn when wild boar numbers were two to three times higher, leading to frequent but less severe damage. The <i>indirect</i> pattern was linked to lower field attractiveness in summer and winter. The high symmetry of damage observed suggests that an effective wild boar management strategy should account for not only damage reduction but also sanitary risks, such as ASF.
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issn 2076-2615
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Animals
spelling doaj-art-e31be663140e427086c2ee3690193c712025-08-20T02:33:01ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-05-011511158710.3390/ani15111587Symmetry of Wild Boar Damage to Agricultural Crops: Results of over 20 Years of Damage Monitoring in Central EuropePaweł Nasiadka0Daniel Klich1Wanda Olech2Maria Sobczuk3Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, PolandThis study analyzed 9871 cases of wild boar damage recorded over more than 20 years using a consistent methodology in a 5000-hectare area with minimal changes in crop structure. This allowed for a reliable assessment of seasonal damage dynamics. Wild boar exhibited seasonal feeding preferences: grasses in spring, cereals in summer, legumes in early autumn, and root crops in late autumn. A bimodal pattern of damage was identified, comprising three types. The <i>rare and severe</i> pattern occurred in spring when the wild boar population at its lowest size caused infrequent but highly damaging events, mainly in meadows. The <i>frequent and weak</i> pattern appeared in late summer and autumn when wild boar numbers were two to three times higher, leading to frequent but less severe damage. The <i>indirect</i> pattern was linked to lower field attractiveness in summer and winter. The high symmetry of damage observed suggests that an effective wild boar management strategy should account for not only damage reduction but also sanitary risks, such as ASF.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1587agriculturecrop protectionconflict mitigationwildlife managementwild boar
spellingShingle Paweł Nasiadka
Daniel Klich
Wanda Olech
Maria Sobczuk
Symmetry of Wild Boar Damage to Agricultural Crops: Results of over 20 Years of Damage Monitoring in Central Europe
Animals
agriculture
crop protection
conflict mitigation
wildlife management
wild boar
title Symmetry of Wild Boar Damage to Agricultural Crops: Results of over 20 Years of Damage Monitoring in Central Europe
title_full Symmetry of Wild Boar Damage to Agricultural Crops: Results of over 20 Years of Damage Monitoring in Central Europe
title_fullStr Symmetry of Wild Boar Damage to Agricultural Crops: Results of over 20 Years of Damage Monitoring in Central Europe
title_full_unstemmed Symmetry of Wild Boar Damage to Agricultural Crops: Results of over 20 Years of Damage Monitoring in Central Europe
title_short Symmetry of Wild Boar Damage to Agricultural Crops: Results of over 20 Years of Damage Monitoring in Central Europe
title_sort symmetry of wild boar damage to agricultural crops results of over 20 years of damage monitoring in central europe
topic agriculture
crop protection
conflict mitigation
wildlife management
wild boar
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1587
work_keys_str_mv AT pawełnasiadka symmetryofwildboardamagetoagriculturalcropsresultsofover20yearsofdamagemonitoringincentraleurope
AT danielklich symmetryofwildboardamagetoagriculturalcropsresultsofover20yearsofdamagemonitoringincentraleurope
AT wandaolech symmetryofwildboardamagetoagriculturalcropsresultsofover20yearsofdamagemonitoringincentraleurope
AT mariasobczuk symmetryofwildboardamagetoagriculturalcropsresultsofover20yearsofdamagemonitoringincentraleurope