African swine fever is spreading across Europe at a pace that should concern every hunter. The virus, harmless to humans but lethal to pigs and wild boar, has been moving westward for years — and it's changing the way we hunt.
Wild boar populations in affected areas have collapsed almost overnight in some regions. In Poland, the Czech Republic and parts of Germany, hunters who once saw boar regularly are now going weeks without a sighting. The disease spreads fast: infected animals, contaminated soil, even hunters' boots can carry it from one forest to the next.
What can you do? First, always clean your boots before and after entering hunting grounds. Don't leave offal in the field — bag it and dispose of it properly. If you find a dead boar, don't touch it and report it to your local wildlife authority immediately. Second, follow the movement restrictions in your area. Moving shot boar across regional boundaries can unknowingly spread the virus.
The good news: where hunting pressure has been maintained, boar numbers are recovering faster than in areas where hunting stopped out of fear. The hunter remains the most effective tool in disease management.
