REVIEW
The impact of environmental changes on the biology and ethology of wild boar in the agricultural landscape
1
Entomology and Animal Agrophagues, Institute of Plant Protection – NRI, Poznań, Poland
2
Plant Health Surveillance Department, Provincial Inspectorate of Plant Health and Seed Inspection in Poznań, Środa Wielkopolska, Poland
3
Plant Health Surveillance Department, Provincial Inspectorate of Plant Health and Seed Inspection in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
A - Research concept and design; B - Collection and/or assembly of data; C - Data analysis and interpretation; D - Writing the article; E - Critical revision of the article; F - Final approval of article
Submission date: 2025-03-17
Acceptance date: 2025-05-16
Online publication date: 2025-12-19
Corresponding author
Paweł Węgorek
Entomology and Animal Agrophagues, Institute of Plant Protection – NRI, Poznań, Poland
Entomology and Animal Agrophagues, Institute of Plant Protection – NRI, Poznań, Poland
Journal of Plant Protection Research 2025;65(4):455-464
HIGHLIGHTS
- Damages caused by wild boar in the most important crops
- Wild boar as one of the main agricultural pests
- Crop protection against wild boar
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Environmental changes significantly impact the populations of various game mammal species,
altering their biology, behavior, feeding preferences, and the extent of damage they
cause to agricultural crops. This study focused on the current status of the wild boar (Sus
scrofa L.) — a species that has become a major agricultural pest in certain agricultural
crops. In Greater Poland, which is an agricultural region of Poland, wild boars cause the
greatest damage to rapeseed and maize crops. Both plant species are mainly damaged
during the spring and summer growing seasons, as wild boars not only forage in these
fields but also create shelter areas within them, which leads to significant yield losses. This
analysis considered both the negative consequences of its presence and the positive role it
plays in the ecosystem. A substantial part of the presented information is based on research
and observations conducted at the Game Breeding Center of the Institute of Plant Protection
– National Research Institute in Poznań (GBC OPP-NRI), within hunting district
no. 311 (Jarocin Forest District) near Winna Góra.
RESPONSIBLE EDITOR
Jacek Twardowski
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors have declared that no conflict of interests exist.
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