Editing Wild boar (section)

=== Habitat and sheltering  ===
[[File:Wild Boar Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary East Sikkim India 19.10.2015.jpg|thumb|An individual from higher ridges of Himalayas at {{cvt|9600|ft|m|order=flip}} in [[Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary]], Sikkim, India]]
[[File:Wild Boar Habbitat 2.jpg|thumb|Wild boars frequently wallow in mud, possibly to regulate temperature or remove parasites]]
The wild boar inhabits a diverse array of [[habitat]]s from boreal [[taiga]]s to [[desert]]s.<ref name=heptner1988 /> In mountainous regions, it can even occupy [[Alpine climate|alpine]] zones, occurring up to {{cvt|1900|m|ft}} in the [[Carpathians]], {{cvt|2600|m|ft}} in the [[Caucasus]] and up to {{cvt|3600|-|4000|m|ft}} in the mountains in [[Central Asia]] and [[Kazakhstan]].<ref name=heptner1988 /> In order to survive in a given area, wild boars require a habitat fulfilling three conditions: heavily brushed areas providing shelter from predators, water for drinking and bathing purposes and an absence of regular snowfall.<ref name="marsan55" />

The main habitats favored by boars in [[Europe]] are [[Temperate deciduous forest|deciduous]] and [[Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest|mixed forests]], with the most favorable areas consisting of forest composed of [[oak]] and [[beech]] enclosing [[marsh]]es and [[meadow]]s. In the [[Białowieża Forest]], the animal's primary habitat consists of well-developed [[Broad-leaved tree|broad-leaved]] and mixed forests, along with marshy mixed forests, with [[Pinophyta|coniferous]] forests and undergrowths being of secondary importance. Forests made up entirely of oak groves and beeches are used only during the fruit-bearing season. This is in contrast to the Caucasian and [[Transcaucasia]]n mountain areas, where boars will occupy such fruit-bearing forests year-round. In the mountainous areas of the [[Russian Far East]], the species inhabits [[Pine|nutpine]] groves, hilly mixed forests where [[Mongolian oak]] and [[Korean pine]] are present, swampy mixed taiga and coastal oak forests. In [[Transbaikal]]ia, boars are restricted to river valleys with nut pine and shrubs. Boars are regularly encountered in [[pistachio]] groves in winter in some areas of [[Tajikistan]] and [[Turkmenistan]], while in spring they migrate to open deserts; boar have also colonized deserts in several areas they have been introduced to.<ref name=heptner1988 /><ref name="marsan55">{{Harvnb|Marsan|Mattioli|2013|pp=55–58}}</ref><ref>Long, J. L. (2003), ''Introduced Mammals of the World: Their History, Distribution and Influence'', Cabi Publishing, {{ISBN|978-0-85199-748-3}}</ref>

On the islands of [[Komodo (island)|Komodo]] and [[Rinca]], the boar mostly inhabits savanna or open monsoon forests, avoiding heavily forested areas unless pursued by humans.<ref name="auffenberg1981" /> Wild boar are known to be competent swimmers, capable of covering long distances. In 2013, one boar was reported to have completed the {{convert|7|mi|km|order=flip|0|adj=on}} swim from [[France]] to [[Alderney]] in the [[Channel Islands]]. Due to concerns about disease, it was shot and incinerated.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-24932170 |publisher=BBC News |title=Alderney wild boar that swam from France shot over disease fear |date=14 November 2013 |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-date=29 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429184220/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-24932170 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Wild boar rest in shelters, which contain insulating material like [[spruce]] branches and dry [[hay]]. These resting places are occupied by whole families (though males lie separately) and are often located in the vicinity of streams, in swamp forests and in tall grass or shrub thickets. Boars never defecate in their shelters and will cover themselves with soil and pine needles when irritated by insects.<ref name=baskin2003 />