B9 highway closes briefly to hunt for infected wild boar carcasses

A one-hour roadblock aims to protect wildlife—and drivers—from a deadly virus. Trained dogs will lead the search for hidden dangers.

, and Administrator

2026 April 14 . 4:01 AM

1 min read

The image shows a group of wild boars walking down a dirt road surrounded by grass, plants, and... — The image shows a group of wild boars walking down a dirt road surrounded by grass, plants, and trees. At the bottom of the image, there is some text.

B9 highway closes briefly to hunt for infected wild boar carcasses

Wild Boar Carcass Search to Close B9 Road on Saturday

Authorities will search for wild boar carcasses along the B9 highway this Saturday (March 28), leading to a temporary full closure of the road between Nackenheim and Mainz-Laubenheim. The announcement was made by Rheinland-Pfalz's mobility agency, Landesbetrieb Mobilität.

The closure will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the stretch between the Nackenheim picnic area and the NATO ramp in Mainz-Laubenheim. During this time, specially trained dog teams will comb the area to locate and remove wild boar that may be infected with African swine fever (ASF).

According to officials, the operation is critical because the ASF virus can survive in the bodies of dead animals and in the soil beneath carcasses. Any wildlife coming into contact with contaminated remains risks infection and further spread of the disease.

The brief full closure aims to prevent startled animals from causing accidents on the road.