- Last year saw a higher number of wild boar being hunted by Saar hunters.
Wild Boar Hunting numbers in Saarland have surged once more during the latest hunting season, with a record-breaking 7,230 wild boars being slaughtered (up until March 31, 2024), according to Johannes Schorr, the business manager of the Saarland Hunters' Association, who spoke to the German Press Agency in Saarwellingen. This is the fifth-highest number in Saarland's hunting record history.
As of April 1st, around 3,200 wild boars have been recorded as being hunted in Saarland. In light of the potential outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the region, obligatory efforts are required from hunters to further decrease the wild boar population, Schorr stated.
The increased hunting of wild boars has long been considered a proactive measure against ASF. Reducing wild boar populations makes it more challenging for the virus to spread from animal to animal. Schorr believes that the wild boar population in Saarland has decreased overall in recent years.
ASF has recently appeared for the first time in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. To prevent an ASF outbreak in Saarland, the Ministry of the Environment has emphasized that the highest aim is to maintain vigilance. ASF is harmless to humans, other animal species, and even pets, but it's generally fatal for both domesticated and wild pigs.
High figures for roe and fallow deer
The Saarland hunters reported that around 12,500 roe deer were hunted in the fourth consecutive year. The fallow deer count (481) remained high although it was lower than in previous years, while the red deer (164) count fell below the previous figures.
Approximately 3,200 foxes were listed in the statistics, with the numbers consistently below 4,000 for 13 years now. Previously, the numbers were typically between 5,000 and 7,000. Fox mange continues to be prevalent in Saarland, according to reports.
The "badger shoot" remains relatively stable with around 380 animals being hunted, the hunters reported. There has been a slight increase in wild geese - around 280 animals. The majority of the increase in wild geese is attributed to the further spread of the invasive species Canada goose and Egyptian goose.
The number of hunters in Saarland is on the rise
The small game of agricultural land - hares, rabbits, pheasants, and partridges - continues to be sparsely hunted in Saarland. A total of 22 badgers and 2 pine martens were hunted. By the end of 2023, there were over 5,600 hunters in Saarland, an increase of around 200 compared to the previous year.
Hunters continue to prioritize wild boar hunting due to its role in controlling potential ASF outbreaks, as stated by Johannes Schorr. The surge in wild boar slaughter during the latest hunting season, with 7,230 wild boars being killed, is a testament to this proactive measure.
