The Swedish wild boar (Sus scrofa) population has expanded greatly in both size and distribution during the last decades. It is well known that wild boar causes problems in the agriculture and several studies have been performed on this subject. However, there is almost no information concerning the importance of wild boar for the forestry. It is plausible that rooting could cause both rot (through physical damage to the roots) and influence the spread of rot between spruce plantations. If so, wild boar rooting could thereby lead to a loss in wood quality and harvested volumes and thus cause negative economic consequences for the forestry.This pilot study is a part of a larger research project on wild boar and its management. The aim of this study was, through a field study and annual statistics, to collect data indicating the type and degree of correlation between damage to the stems and roots due to wild boar rooting (probable attack point for rot) on spruce (Picea abies). Damage was related to the depth of the rooting, soil type, the age of the stand and an index for local wild boar density.The field study was conducted as an inventory of rooting along line transects with 50 meter intervals in spruce stands (age 30-70 years, landowner the forest enterprice Sveaskog). The inventories were conducted in southern Sweden in areas around Ulricehamn, Kalmar, Ljungby, Burseryd and Växjö.A total number of 683 wild boars rooting, in 40 different stands was recorded. Rooting with damaged roots and rooting with exposed roots are those that can lead to future rotting in spruce trees, and such made up 57% of all rootings. At rooting depth of 6-10 cm, the risk of such damages was >50% whereas at depths of 11-20, the risk was >70%. Of all rootings, 46% were located in stands on old agricultural land and 54% located at sites only used for forest regeneration. There was also a positive correlation between the number of years with wild boars in an area and the amount of rooting with damaged roots. The result shows that there is a risk that wild boar rooting, over time, could cause rot in spruce.