Updated Wild Boar Hunt Statistics in Saarland Amid African Swine Fever Concerns
Hunters Slaughter Increasing Number of Wild Boars in Local Habitat - Wild boar poaching escalates by Saar hunters
Let's dive into the recent hunting season in Saarland and the impact on its wild boar population!
Hold up, before we get started, let's touch upon some background info
African Swine Fever (ASF) is a concerning issue that affects pig populations globally. It's a deadly and highly contagious disease posing a significant threat to both wild boar and domestic pig populations. In regions with ASF outbreaks, hunters' efforts are often geared towards reducing the wild boar population as a preventative measure.
Now, back to our hunting statistics!
Hunters in Saarland bagged an impressive number of wild boars in the last hunting season, with around 8,400 wild boars shot. This is about 1,200 more wild boars than the previous year! Johannes Schorr, managing director of the Saarland Hunters' Association, reported this figure in Saarwellingen, making it the fourth-highest number in Saarland's hunting history.
With concerns of an ASF outbreak looming, hunters in the region have been urged to step up their efforts to continue lowering the wild boar population, as Schorr stated. This intensified hunt on wild boars has long been considered a preventative measure against ASF.
Roe and fallow deer also saw high kill numbers, with 12,000 roe deer and 522 fallow deer being hunted. Red deer numbers were somewhat lower than previous years at 132 animals, as their suitable habitat continues to dwindle in Saarland.
Other statistics for foxes, badgers, and geese were reported, with 3,600 foxes killed, a stable badger take of around 440 animals, and a decrease in wild geese to about 240 animals. The majority of the decreasing geese population was found in the Merzig-Wadern district, where half of them resided. The increase in wild geese is primarily due to the continuous spread of invasive species, including the Canada goose and Egyptian goose.
Game on agricultural land, such as hares, rabbits, pheasants, and partridges, continue to be hunted sparingly in Saarland. Also, 19 badgers were reported killed, while around 5,650 hunters were active in Saarland at the end of 2024.
Stay tuned for more updates on hunting seasons, wild boar populations, and ASF concerns in Saarland! 😉
The Community policy and Employment policy should address the safety measures and regulations for hunters, considering the potential threat of African Swine Fever.
The Saarland Hunters' Association, in adherence to their Employment policy, is continually striving to lower the wild boar population to combat the risks of ASF outbreaks.
