Wild Hogs Conflicts
Wild Hogs (Mayer and Brisbin book x Wild Pigs Pamphlet)
- Wild Hogs are NOT native to the United States or North America and are NOT considered to be wildlife!
- Introduced by early settlers over 500 years ago, and were even viewed as a nuisance species then
- Currently (4) categories in which they can be placed:
- Eurasian Wild Boar (Sus scrofa ssp.) = individuals from populations of wild living boars in the Palearctic, Oriental, and Ethiopian realms with no domestication in their ancestry
- Domestic Swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) = domesticated forms of pigs facilitated by some form of conscious artificial selection by man
- Feral Swine or Feral Hogs (Sus scrofa) = individuals from populations of wild-living pigs with a domestic ancestry
- Hybrids (Sus scrofa) = wild boar x feral hog hybrids are individuals from populations with some combination of both feral hogs and Eurasian wild boar in their ancestry
- Known to carry at least 45 different parasites and diseases in which some can be transmitted to our NATIVE wildlife as well as humans!
- Population can double each year and in just 10 years and what was just a few hogs can multiply to over 600!
- Along with competing with our native wildlife for food it is estimated that they cause a loss of $1.5 billion per year in control costs and property damage which includes:
- Crop destruction
- Livestock mortality = newborn calves, lambs, and goats!
- Forest regeneration = compromising production and ecological function
- Water quality = fecal coliform levels and increased turbidity
- Infrastructure damage = levee systems and right-of-ways
- Disease vectors = Pseudorabies and Brucellosis (zoonotic)
More Information
Feral Hogs Native Plant Communities
Feral Hogs and Water Quality in Plum Creek
Feral Hogs Impact Ground Nesting Birds
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Cooperator Spotlight
The F.A.W.R. works with states, insular areas and the District of Columbia to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, their habitats, and the hunting, sport fishing and recreational boating opportunities they provide.
Learn More About Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
