Analysis of two methods of reducing the wild boar population in urban areas on the example of the Szczecin agglomeration, Poland

Due to conflict situations emerging from human-wild boar interactions and the outbreak of African swine fever in Poland, there was a need to reduce the population of wild boars inhabiting urban areas. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of two methods of such treatment – trapping and sanitary shooting, primarily in terms of reducing the adult population. The research hypothesis was that shooting was a more effective method of reducing adult wild boars compared to trapping. The data were collected over a period of 13 years, from 2008 to 2020. During this period, wild boar reduction in Szczecin was performed by trapping into live cages and relocating wild boars to hunting areas, and by sanitary shooting. The latter method proved to be a more effective method of reducing wild boars in the city, especially adult individuals, which confirmed the research hypothesis.