Drive wild boar out of the garden

Wild boar venture into civilized residential areas more and more often and cause great damage in the garden on their nocturnal forays. Fortunately, there are some ways to scare away uninvited guests in an animal-friendly and environmentally friendly way.

Vulnerable Areas

The expansion of humans and a change in landscape cultivation are forcing wild boar more and more frequently to search for food in the immediate vicinity of settlements. The more of the following factors apply to a location, the higher the probability that the animals will appear on private property.

  • land bordering a forest
  • Parks or green spaces in the vicinity
  • Meager food supply due to one-sided agriculture (e.g. increased maize cultivation)

damage picture

They come in the night and leave a sight of devastation in their wake. When wild boar look for food in the ground, they often dig up the whole garden. Beds and lawns are equally affected. The animals also gratefully accept involuntary offers of food, for which they do not have to put any effort. Open garbage cans or leftovers on the terrace invite you like a buffet. Garbage cans are knocked over or even damaged. It is not uncommon for wild animals to appear in whole gangs. The traces they leave behind are unmistakable.

Note: There is no insurance for damage caused by wild boar. Since the forest dwellers, as free-roaming animals, do not belong to anyone, no one can be held responsible. Damage is only financed by the responsible municipality on golf courses. Individuals are on their own.

Measures against wild boar in the garden

Erecting a high fence is probably the best way to protect against wild boar. Both the construction and the material can contribute to a successful defense.

Stable fences

This does not mean a simple chain link fence . A wild boar is able to push down such material with ease if it scents forage on the property. The forest dwellers are not at all impressed by thorny hedges. Metal and wood are more capable of defying the power of a wild boar. The structure should be as fine-meshed as possible. A minimum height of 1.3 meters is also required to prevent the animals from entering. A fence is only secure if it is firmly anchored to the ground with a concrete foundation.

Weidezäune

First of all, this alternative to stable wooden or metal fences does not sound very effective. Many people are unaware that willow has the useful property of transmitting electricity. If a wild boar touches the fence with its wet snout, an electric shock drives the animal to flee.

In order to prevent intruders from entering the property, pasture fences must be provided with tear-resistant wires. Their height is also important. To prevent newbies from slipping under the fence, the lowest wire should be about 20 cm above the ground.

Electricity fences are permitted in Germany for delimiting property, but should be carefully considered. Heavy current poses a high risk to all residents and animals.

Note: Pet owners should be aware that their own dog or cat could also injure themselves on a pasture fence.

Repellents

These agents are commercially available and have established themselves in driving away wild boar. These are bait that encourage the intruders to eat. However, they taste so unpleasant that the animals save the visit to the garden as a bad experience and avoid the property for the time being. The application happens as follows:

  • Scatter repellents in the garden (also consider the beds)
  • especially at possible accesses, an increased dose
  • Apply measure every six weeks
  • in the event of heavy precipitation, shorten the distances if necessary
Note: The repellents only scare away the boars, but do not harm them. They contain neither poison nor other chemical substances and are therefore harmless for your own pets and small children.

Home remedies for wild boar?

Due to their environmentally friendly and cost-effective application, home remedies are always very popular when it comes to driving animals out of the garden. Experience has shown that there is no success with wild boar. The following methods have proven useless:

  • noise
  • fragrances
  • Traps (e.g. chilli paste, which spoils the appetite of the wild boar when they eat)

Noise and light against wild boar?

Unfortunately, the animals cannot be scared away with noise, or only for a short time. In a quiet minute, however, they will most likely reappear. According to experts, horns or horns are useless. Watchdogs, on the other hand, are much more effective and drive away intruders with their barking.

In addition, the trade offers special LED lights that are intended to keep rotten out of the garden. But even here the effect is very small. In most cases, the intelligent animals quickly notice that the light source does not pose any danger.

Note: The wild animals are considered to be very adaptable and are no longer only active at night. Even brightness no longer prevents them from foraging for food.

Prevent wild boar in the garden

  • Enclose the property with a stable fence
  • do not dispose of leftovers in the compost
    • or make it inaccessible
  • Lock garbage cans with a padlock
  • Collect fallen fruit immediately
  • Remove dried leaves and grass clippings from the lawn
  • do not store pet food outdoors

As always, personal protection comes before property protection. Wild boars are not to be trifled with. Brooks in particular tend to behave very aggressively towards humans when they have piglets by their side. Although the damage that the animals cause on your own property is extremely annoying, before an owner puts himself in danger, he should refrain from risky measures.

Note: Conversely, when driving away, an animal must never be injured or even killed. The unfounded abuse of an animal is a criminal offense and is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of 25,000 euros according to Section 17 of the TierSchG (animal protection law).

Kira Bellingham

I'm a homes writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience in publishing. I have worked across many titles, including Ideal Home and, of course, Homes & Gardens. My day job is as Chief Group Sub Editor across the homes and interiors titles in the group. This has given me broad experience in interiors advice on just about every subject. I'm obsessed with interiors and delighted to be part of the Homes & Gardens team.

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