West Lebanon — Wildlife officials say a wild boar that was struck and killed on Interstate 89 on Tuesday morning likely was an escapee of Corbin Park, a game preserve that encompasses more than 20,000 acres in parts of Croydon, Grantham, Cornish, Plainfield and Newport.

An unknown motorist struck the 90-pound animal while traveling southbound near Exit 19.

Neither Lebanon police nor New Hampshire State Police had record of the incident on file, but Fish and Game wildlife biologist Rob Calvert confirmed the animal was a boar. A wildlife technician picked up the carcass and will send it out for testing for different types of diseases.

Wildlife officials believe New Hampshire’s wild boar population descends from animals released into Corbin Park, a private fenced hunting ground operated by the Blue Mountain Forest Association.

In 2012, Anthony Munsante, who studies the feral hog and wild boar population, told the Valley News he estimated there were about 200 wild boar roaming the state.

Calvert, who is a wildlife damage specialist, said Tuesday’s sighting on the interstate was isolated.

“I don’t think we have pocket populations that are springing up,” Calvert said. “I think they all come from one source and move around.”

In years past, he said, there were reports of wild boar in the Grafton County town of Sugar Hill, but most sightings come from people in the towns surrounding Corbin Park.

Downed trees have put holes in the preserve’s fence and people also have cause breaches, Calvert said.

About five years ago, a Lebanon resident spotted a boar in her backyard, near the intersection of Pine and Spring streets, not far from the woods surrounding the Storrs Hill ski area.

A feral swine population has also been confirmed in Cheshire County, according to Fish and Game.

Hunters do hunt the population, which “puts pressure on them” and keeps their numbers in check, Calvert said.

“I don’t think it is a burgeoning population,” he said.

Residents shouldn’t be concerned for their safety. The animals are unlikely to become aggressive during an encounter, but instead will run away, Calvert said.

Anyone thought to have spotted a wild boar in the area is asked to call the the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s New Hampshire Wildlife Services division at 603-223-6832.

Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.

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