Why have there been more wild boars in the forests near Moscow?

Wild boars are indeed expanding their range in the Moscow region, and there are several reasons for this. The main one is that they've found ideal living conditions: plenty of food on dachas and in gardens, no natural predators, and hunting is controlled. At the same time, the population is growing fast because mortality is low. The climate is warm, winters are milder than before - that also helps them get through the cold season with fewer losses.

The second reason is the expansion of their habitat. Shrub thickets, abandoned plots, and tree plantings between dachas create ideal corridors for movement. Add to that the fact that there's more food in the forests now: trash from dachas, fallen fruit, roots and various plants that boars dig up. They're basically learning that it's safer and easier to find food near humans.

In practice, local authorities deal with the population increase through hunting and trapping - both methods are used. If you see a boar on your property, it's better not to approach it and let it leave peacefully. Noise, dogs, and fencing off garden beds help scare the animals away. In 2026 the situation is tense, but under control, though complaints from dacha owners keep coming in.

The stuff above about lack of predators and food availability is spot on. I'll add this: wild boars are super adaptable when it comes to diet and they're great at adjusting to city conditions, so when the population grows, they just start moving into new territories. Also, the forests around Moscow have gotten noticeably overgrown over the last 20-30 years - there's been a drop in active economic activity, and that created perfect conditions for them to breed. Climate is more of a secondary factor here, though overall warming does make winter less harsh and boosts their survival rates.