The Suidae family comprises several species of animals that are commonly known as pigs and wild boars. Within the latter, the species s us scrofa is usually called wild boar. Although it is not the only one, there are others that are also identified in this way, such as the desert warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus) or the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), among others.
Depending on the species, they may be native to Europe, Asia or Africa, although their us scrofa, corresponds to both the first and second continents, but is currently widespread to the point of being a cosmopolitan species. In this article on our site, we want to present you with specific information about the diet of these animals, so we invite you to continue reading and find out what wild boars eat, both babies like adults.
Type of feeding of wild boars
Depending on the species, wild boars can live in different types of habitats, some with a wider range of ecosystems such as the Eurasian wild boar or the species Sus scrofa, which lives in a wide variety of both temperate and tropical areas that includes from semi-deserts to jungles and reed jungles.
Similarly, the species Potamochoerus larvatus, native to Africa and known as wild boar or bushpig in English, is associated with various types of dense vegetationwith different altitudes.
However, other warthogs have a more specialized habitat, such as the desert warthog and the common warthog, since that the former is restricted to low altitude semi-arid areas, while the latter is restricted to savannahs, open thickets and forests.
Now then, the diversity of spaces where wild boars live gives us an idea of the variety of their diet, and in this sense, the feeding of wild boars can be:
- Omnivorous feeding: Both species S. scrofa and P. larvatus are wild boars with a fully omnivorous diet. You can consult more about Omnivorous Animals: more than 40 examples and curiosities in this other post.
- Herbivorous feeding: some species only choose to consume other animals sporadically or on occasion. Thus, the desert warthog and the common warthog eat a primarily herbivorous diet. To learn about other herbivorous animals: examples and curiosities, read this article on our site that we recommend.
On the other hand, certain species do consume one type of food or another on a regular basis.
What do baby boars eat?
These are mammalian animals, so when the females give birth, the first food the baby boars receive is their mother's milk The common warthog is usually weaned around six months, although surely before this time it begins to consume other foods because around six or seven weeks it leaves the dens where it was born.
As for the desert warthog, although they don't completely stop consuming milk until they are six months old, at three weeks they begin to consume grassand, approximately every forty minutes, they nurse from their mother. On the other hand, these baby warthogs can eventually consume their mother's feces , which is another food source.
On the other hand, the female wild boar (P. larvatus), suckles her young for between two and four months, and unlike the previous species, where the males do not provide parental care, here, the father takes his children to the areas they use for food.
Finally, in the baby boars of S. scrofa, on average, weaning occurs between week eight through twelve. Some mortality of the young is common in this species when there are large groups and they compete to feed.
Boars in some cases can cause certain inconveniences in planting areas, since they enter these in order to find food. This has resulted in them being hunted many times, leaving their young without their mother, so eventually, in certain areas, these little ones can be found unprotected. If we were to find a baby boar in these conditions, the ideal is to take it immediately to a recovery center or shelter, so that they can take care of it. However, if it is not possible to do it at the moment, you can offer him both fruits and water, so that he stays hydrated and consumes some food.
What do adult wild boars eat?
Let's find out what adult wild boars of the species that we have discussed in this article eat:
Desert Warthog
This species is a generalist in terms of its herbivorous diet, which may consist of:
- Herbs.
- Estate.
- Shrubbery.
- Fruits.
- Bulbs.
- Tubers.
- Insects and carrion: only when there is a shortage of other foods.
- Manure.
Common Warthog
This type of wild boar is more specialized in terms of the plants it consumes, its diet is based on:
- Short grasses.
- Estate.
- Berries.
- Barks.
- Carrion: eventually.
- Manure.
Wild boar (P. larvatus)
The diet of this species is completely omnivorous, which includes:
- Estate.
- Rhizomes.
- Tubers.
- Bulbs.
- Fruits.
- Insect larvae.
- Invertebrates.
- Small Vertebrates.
- Carrion.
Wild boar (S. scrofa)
As the previous species has a wide omnivorous diet, which is characterized by adapting to availability and season, this may include:
- Green plants.
- Crops.
- Walnuts.
- Fruits.
- Estate.
- Little rodents.
- Baby calves and lambs.
- Bird eggs.
- Insects.
- Worms.
- Carrion.
In general, wild boars are very active in the search for food, which they do in the groups they form. To obtain their plant food, they rely on their snouts and fangs to dig it up if necessary.
These animals are not guilty of being in contact in areas that are now used for planting or where there are houses, that is why, from our site, we advocate that if it is necessary to scare them away to avoid that cause damage, are done with methods that in no way cause them mistreatment or death, since there are various ways to repel them guaranteeing their well-being.
