About 20 wild boar have been spotted in Duisburg, part of Tervuren. The municipality is asking people to report any wild boar they see near property.
Increasing number of wild boars are appearing near homes and farmland in the area, as the birth peak is over and the young are now able to go out with their mothers.
“Several mothers form a herd together and go out with their young like this. The size of such a group varies, so groups of 20 or so wild boar are quite common,” says Jim Casaer of Flanders’ Institute of Nature and Forest Research.
The groups often cause damage, by digging up gardens or destroying crops, so the municipality is asking residents to report sightings near property.
“If you come across a herd, you should enjoy the unique encounter, but keep a little distance. Mothers with young are going to try to get away,” said Casaer. “You have to make sure they have space to leave and that they don’t feel trapped. If you’re out with your dog, it’s important to keep it with you.”