Urban wild boars in Haifa: what's happening and what might help

In Haifa, in northern Israel, wild boars have been roaming the streets for several years now. They turn up by apartment blocks, at playgrounds, and around trash bins. What once felt like a rare sight has become part of daily city life.

Locals respond differently to these unruly neighbors: some reach for their phones to film, others avoid going out after dark. City Hall is still searching for a lasting fix.

Where did they come from?

Haifa sits beside Mount Carmel, an area rich in forest and greenery where boars naturally live. When food runs short in the woods, they head for easier pickings. And where is it easiest to find a meal? In the city—especially near garbage containers that aren’t properly secured.

A recent study suggests the boars choose these spots deliberately. They remember where it’s safe and where food can be found with minimal effort. So if bins are open or poorly maintained, the animals return again and again.

People are worried—and with reason

Reports of urban boars are routine now: some residents spot them from their windows, others meet them right by the building entrance. The animals can act calmly, yet their size and unpredictability are intimidating. It’s especially unsettling for children and older people who stumble upon a boar on the street.

In 2024, after Haifa elected a new mayor, the situation seemed to improve. Fewer boars were seen, and residents breathed a little easier. But in early 2025, complaints started surfacing again—raising fears that the problem could rebound.

The city is trying—so far, not very successfully

In mid-2025, a report by a state auditor noted that Haifa’s authorities still hadn’t laid out a clear plan to deal with the issue. Steps are being taken, but they seem to happen without real coordination.

There is no unified strategy—no clear process for what to do, who is responsible, or how quickly to respond to complaints. Without that, residents struggle to believe the problem is truly being addressed, and trust is hard to rebuild when responses look ad hoc.

What could help?

Researchers who studied the situation say that simply trapping boars—or waiting for them to leave on their own—won’t work. The problem is more complex. The approach has to change: better control of garbage, tougher bins that animals can’t open, and clear guidance for residents on how to behave if they encounter a wild animal.

It also matters to understand how boars move through the city, which areas they choose, and why. Only then can sensible decisions be made that actually help.

What’s next?

Haifa is a vivid example of nature and city life overlapping. For now, the boars keep coming because we make it convenient for them. If nothing changes, they will show up more often.

Urban wildlife is not just Haifa’s story. Similar cases happen in many countries. The Israeli city’s experience could help others—if the right lessons are drawn.