Wild+Boar+-+3

=WILD BOAR (**// Sus scrofa)  //**=

__General Information__
The wild boar is found in Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. The boar can live in groups up to fifty. The wild boar's mating season takes place during the winter months. The boar can have two to twelve babies in a litter. They are born usually between March and May. The piglets are not full grown until the age of four or five years.

__Detailed Description (Life Cycle / Reproduction)__
Boars have more babies each year than any other large mammal in North America. They can have 3 litters each year with up to 14 babies each time. After 3 months, the babies are weaned (can find their own food), but may still stay with the mother. The fathers live by themselves. Although mother boars do not have tusks, they are still dangerous when protecting their babies. The mother builds a stick and grass nest on the ground. Her babies live there for 1 week until they are big enough to follow her around. They are born with light brown fur that has white stripes from head to tail. When they are 4- 6 months old, they turn a cinnamon brown color. At 1 year old, they are full-grown and have black fur.

__Habitat and Distribution__
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WwK_1SFE_8&feature=related__
 * __http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLFby-GIAKk__**

Impacts
RISKS/IMPACTS : Asian swamp eels eat a broad range of prey, including fish, shrimp, crayfish, frogs, turtle eggs, and aquatic invertebrates (e.g., worms and insects). Although the ecological impacts in North American waters are relatively unknown, some impacts are documented in other regions of the world where they have become established. Swamp-eel competition may displace native aquatic species. They may accelerate the drying of shallow water bodies (when the species is abundant) during periods of drought via their extensive borrow system, thereby causing additional risk to other aquatic organisms. On the positive side, swamp eels are used as food source in many Asian cultures. Significant adverse impacts have yet to be documented, but due to its predatory nature, the Asian swamp eel appears to have the potential for adverse environmental impacts in North America. There is concern, for example, that they may disrupt the Everglades National Park ecosystem. (4)

History
Wild boars are not native to North America. They were brought here from Europe, first by the Spanish explorers in the 1500’s (for food) and later in the 1900’s by people who wanted to hunt the pigs for sport. The wild boars you see today are the great grandchildren of the European boars brought here a long time ago. They are NOT pink with curly tails. Wild boars are large - sometimes 5 feet long, and weigh up to 300 pounds. They have stiff black fur and straight tails. The males (boys) have tusks that curl out of their mouth. They are not long tusks like an elephant’s, but they are still 2-5 inches long and can really hurt you! Sometimes wild boars will breed with pot-bellied pigs. The babies will grow up to have black fur and straight tails, but they may have fat bellies and a white stripe on their foreheads__.__