[Killing in wild boar traps - Studies on the point of impact and effects of head shots (caliber .22 lr) in wild boar (Sus scrofa)].

OBJECTIVE

The spread of African swine fever in Germany has brought wild boar trapping back into focus as a method for animal disease control. While data on free-bullet slaughter in domestic mammals is available, data on the gun shot and caliber selection for use in wild boar trapping is largely lacking.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The heads of 138 wild boars captured in 10 corral-style traps and shot with a bullet (caliber .22 lr) were analyzed with respect to following data: number of bullet entry holes, bullet entry location, as well as tissue damage to the brain and bleeding by the use of frozen sections of the heads.

RESULTS

With the exception of one animal, all wild boars were killed by head shot with the caliber .22 lr. In 76% (105/138) of the wild boars, only one bullet hole was identified in the head, and in 96% (126/131) of the animals, damage of varying severity was observed in the end brain. In the animals with a frontal bullet hole, in which damage was detected in the cerebrum and brain stem in the frozen sections (n=77), the location was, on average, 2.2 cm above the eye line and 0.35 cm to the right of the median.

CONCLUSION

The .22 lr caliber appears to be sufficient for culling wild boar with head shots in corral-style wild boar traps. The choice of the smallest possible caliber is of great importance for reasons of animal welfare and safety for the personnel operating the cull.