Sus scrofa
Richard Bartz · Grünwalder Forst
The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a large even-toed mammal in the pig family (Suidae) and is resident in Georgia. The domestic pig is a domesticated form of the same species. At species level, head–body length is about 90–200 cm, shoulder height is 55–110 cm, and mass often ranges between about 44–320 kg. Size varies strongly by sex and population. It has no venom; the main risk for people is a charge or tusk wound. IUCN assesses the species globally as Least Concern, and it is not listed on Georgia’s 2014 Red List.
Identification
A large even-toed ungulate with a short neck, a long snout, coarse bristles, and a relatively straight back line. Adult males often clearly show tusks directed outward and upward. It is a resident species in Georgia.
At species level, head–body length is about 90–200 cm, tail 15–40 cm, shoulder height 55–110 cm, and mass often ranges between about 44–320 kg. Females are usually smaller than males. The sources used on this page do not provide a separate, broad measured series for Georgia’s population. A Georgian secondary source gives maximum values of about 2 m body length, up to 130 cm at the shoulder, and 50–300 kg, but these are not measured Georgian samples on this page. The snout is elongated, the ears are erect, and the eyes are relatively small.
The body is covered with coarse bristles, with softer hair sometimes present underneath. Colour varies from brown to almost black and often becomes greyer with age. Male tusks are more developed and curve outward and upward. Female tusks are smaller and often less visible. Piglets have pale longitudinal stripes on a brown background — one of the most characteristic signs of young age.
No other wild suid occurs in Georgia. The domestic pig belongs to the same species as the wild boar and they can hybridise, so separating wild and escaped domestic forms in nature is not always easy. Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is much slimmer and longer-legged; males have antlers, not tusks. Brown bear (Ursus arctos) has a completely different build and leaves a plantigrade footprint instead of a hoof print.
The wild boar is not venomous. Its main defences are body strength and tusks. Take special care to avoid a sow with piglets, and do not try to handle or corner the animal.
In Georgia, wild boar occurs in deciduous and mixed forests, floodplains, scrub, ravines, and woodland edges where food and cover are available together. It sometimes enters agricultural land as well. The specific Georgian example used on this page is the Iori floodplain hunting farm. Its 2020 management plan names oak woodland, poplar woodland, floodplain scrub, gullies, and ravines as suitable habitat for wild boar. In open fields, arable land, gardens, and marshes it is recorded more episodically. A Georgian secondary source names floodplain and mountain forests to about 2,500 m, but that is not a separately measured complete elevation range for Georgia. This page does not present a full administrative-region map, and even density across the country should not be assumed.
The wild boar is an opportunistic omnivore. Its food can include roots, tubers, herbaceous plants, acorns, beech mast, berries, insects, snails, carrion, and sometimes small vertebrates. It often enters agricultural land as well and can damage crops. The sources used on this page do not provide a separate quantitative diet study for the Georgian population, so the specific local diet should not be treated as precisely measured here.
Related guides
Yes. The wild boar is a native, resident species in Georgia. It is also included in the country’s mammal checklists and official hunting-species list.
It occurs in forests, floodplains, scrub, and woodland edges. It is more often active at dusk and at night. This page does not present a complete municipality list; the specific named site is the Iori floodplain hunting farm, where the 2020 management plan also describes episodic summer occurrence.
It is a large hoofed animal with coarse bristles, an elongated snout, and a relatively straight back line. Adult males often show clear tusks. Piglets have pale longitudinal stripes on the body. The domestic pig belongs to the same species. No other wild suid occurs in Georgia.
At species level, head–body length is about 90–200 cm, shoulder height 55–110 cm, and mass often ranges between about 44–320 kg. The sources used on this page do not provide a separate broad measured series for Georgia’s population.
It eats roots, plant fruits, grass, invertebrates, carrion, and sometimes agricultural crops. This page does not provide a separate quantitative diet study for Georgia’s population.
It is mainly active at dusk and at night. In Georgia it is resident. It may move substantially at local scale depending on food, season, and disturbance, but it does not make regular seasonal migrations like many birds.
Yes. Wild boar makes various sounds and communication within groups is common. The audio recording used on this page is from Australia, not Georgia; no Georgian sound recording is presented here.
No. The wild boar is not venomous. However, it can charge or cut with its tusks, especially if it feels threatened or if a sow is defending piglets. African swine fever is not dangerous to people.
Globally, the wild boar is Least Concern and is not listed on Georgia’s 2014 Red List. In Georgia it is a hunting species; hunting season and quota are determined by current official rules.
References
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
Prepared by the Reptiles.ge editorial team from the sources listed here.
