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1. Localized analyses indicate that wild boar populations have increased significantly across Europe over the past 30 years.
2. The increase in wild boar populations is affecting the distribution of diseases, affecting human and animal health, contributing to negative wild-boar interactions, and causing damage to agricultural crops and biodiversity. These effects also have a direct economic impact.
3. The number of road accidents involving wild boars is growing.
4. Hunting has not prevented the growth of wild boar populations. However, it is likely that with-out hunting the problem would be worse.
5. Evidence indicates that a combination of factors, including decreasing trends in the number of hunters, changing hunting practices, reforestation, increased food availability (mast, agricultural crops), affect wild boar population growth.
6. It is clear that the primary factor responsible for the increased wild boar populations in Europe is climate change. Milder winter and spring temperatures strongly influences reproduction (winter temperatures) and juvenile survival (spring temperatures). Climate change also influences food availability (mast and agricultural production) further reinforcing the favourable effects of climate change on the species.
7. Changing agricultural practices have created favourable conditions for the growth of wild boar populations:- The availability of multiple food sources;- Tranquillity and shelter which is no longer provided by a majority of forested areas