Estimation of diel activity patterns of wild boars using camera trap surveys in Shizukuishi, Iwate Prefecture

Abstract

It has been reported that the activity patterns of wild boars are affected by temperature and human activities. However, there is no literature on the activity patterns of wild boars in North Tohoku, where their population is expanding. To estimate the diel activity patterns of wild boars, we conducted camera trap surveys in Shizukuishi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The wild boars tended to be nocturnal from spring to autumn. More than 50% of the captured events were recorded before and after sunset. In winter, the number of captured events that occurred during the day was significantly higher than expected. This indicates that the wild boars may have switched to a diurnal cycle. Our study implies that wild boars alter their diel activity patterns to adapt to the low temperatures and snowfall that are characteristic of the winter in North Tohoku.