Home Ranges, Movements, and Habitat Use of European Wild Boar in Tennessee

Abstract

Movements and home ranges of radio-collared wild boar (S. scrofa) were monitored during Feb. 1977 to Feb. 1979 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. Seasonal home ranges of males (.hivin.x = 3.5 km2) were generally larger than those of females (.hivin.x = 3.1 km2). During a mast failure, winter home ranges were 3 times larger, mean hourly movement increased 5-fold, and seasonal migrations were more erratic than during winters following abundant mast production. One female reduced her seasonal ranges an average of 94% when suckling piglets were under 4 mo. old. Certain males, possibly more dominant, aggressive and sexually motivated, moved significantly greater distances/h and had larger seasonal ranges than other males. In summer, wild boar were primarly nocturnal feeders and preferred American beech (Fagus grandifolia) northern hardwood and cove hardwood forest types.