FERAL HOGS
Feral hogs include free-ranging swine that come from domesticated stock, Eurasian wild boar, and hybrids of the two. Although technically, feral refers to free-ranging animals from domesticated stock, all wild hogs are typically referred to as feral in most states and all are considered the same species.
Feral hogs are now found in at least 35 states and Canadian provinces, including most of the Southeast. Florida, second only to Texas, is estimated to have 500,000+ feral hogs in a relatively stable population, with 1 to 2 million in the Southeastern United States.
Problems Caused by Feral Hogs
The opportunistic and omnivorous tendencies of feral hogs lead to many conflicts with people and wildlife. With hard mast, including acorns, as their preferred food, hogs directly compete with many popular game animals, including deer, turkeys, bears and squirrels. This competition is considered to be a significant limiting factor for populations of these native species in some areas. In addition, hogs may consume the nests and young of many reptiles (including endangered and threatened sea turtles, ground-nesting birds, and mammals (including deer fawns). Feral hogs have also been known to consume young domestic livestock including poultry, lambs, and goats.
Feral hogs may compete with native wildlife such as white-tailed deer for food.
Hogs often prey upon the eggs of ground nesting wildlife, including wild turkeys, quail, and endangered & threatened sea turtles, leading to significant nest losses.
When natural foods are scarce or inaccessible, hogs will readily forage on almost any agricultural crop and feed set out for livestock and wildlife, leading to significant losses. Feral hogs will also feed on tree seeds and seedlings, causing significant damage in forests, orchards, and plantations. In Florida and the Southeast, this may be a serious problem in regenerating important long-leaf pine forests.
Hogs rub trees to scratch themselves. In addition, males will often "tusk" small trees, scraping off the bark with their tusks, in what is thought to be some type of dominance display. Such actions can seriously damage young timber.
In addition to the effects of consuming, knocking down, rubbing, and trampling large amounts of native vegetation and crops, the rooting behavior of hogs also causes significant damage. Rooting (digging for foods below the surface of the ground) destabilizes the soil surface, which can lead to erosion and exotic plant establishment; uproots or weakens native vegetation; and damages lawns, dikes, roads, trails, and recreation areas. Rooting by feral hogs can lead to erosion and water quality problems, and the destruction of native vegetation around ponds and in the forest. Wallowing behavior also destroys small ponds and stream banks, and can lead to declines in water quality.
