Wild boars have become increasingly frequent visitors to the popular upscale resorts of the French Riviera. The animals appear not only on beaches but also in campsites, near restaurants, and tourist accommodation. Holidaymakers are urged to be cautious, as hungry wild boars can behave unpredictably, writes Daily Mail.
The animals are attracted by food scraps left by tourists, as well as by garbage containers. Despite bans, some holidaymakers and local residents continue to feed the wild boars, which further habituates them to search for food near humans.
The problem is also linked to rapid population growth. According to data cited in the article, 881,372 wild boars were culled in France during the 2024–2025 hunting season — almost double the number from twenty years ago. However, even such measures have not yet significantly curbed their population growth.
Directly on the French Riviera, there have already been instances of wild boars appearing on beaches. For example, in May, one of them came onto Almanarre beach in the city of Hyères, went into the sea, and then ran along the coast.
So far, no fatal incidents resulting from wild boar attacks have been reported in the region. However, experts warn that wild animals can attack a person if they feel threatened or are injured.
Authorities are trying to combat the problem in various ways. For example, in the resort town of Fréjus, a fine of 450 euros was introduced for feeding wild boars, but this has not yet yielded the expected effect.
Wild boars create problems not only for tourists. Annually, they cause approximately 90 million euros in damage to French agriculture. Furthermore, their presence can disrupt the operation of transport infrastructure. In Spain, at the end of 2025, wild boars ran onto the runway of La Coruña airport, causing it to be temporarily closed and two flights to be diverted.
A similar situation is observed in other European cities. In April 2026, Warsaw authorities brought in hunters to cull wild boars, whose population in the city at that time was estimated at least 3,000.
Experts link the population growth to several factors: the animals have become more resistant to African swine fever, human activity in forests decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and wild boars are increasingly adapting to urban environments.
In search of food, they are increasingly entering populated areas. And when people start feeding them, the animals lose their natural caution towards humans and return even more frequently to places where they can easily find food.
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