African swine fever: how to spot and report the disease

Feral pigs

Wild boar are considered to be a non-native species in Scotland. This means it is an offence under Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to release any type of pig, including wild boar. It is also an offence to allow them to escape from captivity. Unchecked, escapes from collections, wild boar farms or intentional illegal releases could result in widespread establishment of feral pig populations throughout Scotland.

Currently the primary responsibility for controlling feral pig populations lies with individual land owners, and where feral pigs are present, land managers are encouraged to control feral pig numbers to manage their impacts on agriculture and the environment. Best practice guidance about feral pigs and their control can be found on the best practice website.

The keeping of dangerous wild animals is regulated by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. It aims to protect the public and to ensure that the animals are properly cared for. Wild boar and their hybrids are considered dangerous wild animals and a licence is required to keep them. Anyone wishing to keep such animals must obtain a licence from their local authority prior to taking ownership of their animal. Read the guidance on keeping wild boar.

Boar are large, strong animals and adept at breaching many standard fencing designs. Weld mesh or high tensile wild boar netting is the most suitable material to use, and fences should be at least 1.8 m high and should be buried 0.5 m below ground. It is recommended that fencing is supplemented by a minimum of one strand of outrigger electrified wire (a suspended strand of electric wire inside the un-electrified fencing), approximately 0.5 m above ground level. Read further guidance on fencing. 

Fences should be checked regularly to ensure they are kept secure and in good repair. The use of barbed wire is not appropriate, except as a single strand at ground level where wild boar digging under fences are a problem.

You can report wild boar/feral pig sightings in Scotland:

• on the iRecord website 
• by email – wildlifeops@nature.scot
• by email – wildlifeunit@sasa.gsi.gov.uk