Abstract
In recent years, middle and large-sized wild mammals have become inhabited near the urban areas. By clarifying
habitat use in the forests around the city, which is the stage before they appear in the city, it is possible to take
efficient measures in advance. In the present study, we investigated what environments are used as feeding places
by the wild boars in sub--urban forests. Video images were recorded at 30 sensor camera points for one year,
and environmental surveys on soil and vegetation were also conducted at each point. The generalized linear
model (GLM) was performed with the frequency of the feeding behavior taken as the objective variable and 13
environmental variables such as vegetation and soil characteristics as explanatory variables. As a result, it was
confirmed that wild boar tended to forage more often in soft soils from spring to autumn. However, omnivorous
wild boar tended to change the feeding places according to the season. At the foothill forest adjacent to the urban
areas, the number of wild boars will increase due to the favorable soil environment for them to forage. In sub-urban
forests, it is necessary to predict the risk of wild boar invasion in the city in advance based on the soil environment,
and to implement measures such as population management, environmental improvement, and installation of fences
at an early stage.
