pig (feral), wild boar at large
(Sus scrofa (feral type) Linnaeus)

Overview

• Feral swine (also called wild pigs and feral hogs) are an invasive species rapidly becoming established throughout the country.
• Feral swine cause significant damage to agricultural crops, forests, private property, and other natural areas.
• In 2000, it was estimated that the total damage caused by feral swine in the United States was approximately $800 million annually.
• Feral swine damage is caused by their feeding, wallowing, rooting, and tree rubbing.
• Damage usually occurs at night and can be severe after only a few nights.
• Damaged areas are left exposed and open to the establishment of invasive plants.
• Feral swine can vary greatly in appearance and in size. Feral swine are cross between the Eurasian boar and escaped/neglected domestic swine. Typical fur coloration for true Eurasian boar can be grey to dark brown to black, while domestic breeds can display a wider variety of colors with many defining patterns of striping or spots.
• Feral swine can carry diseases that threaten livestock, pets, and humans.
• Feral swine are omnivorous feeders and will consume anything in their path – invertebrates, small mammals and other small vertebrates, eggs of ground-nesting birds, even the young of larger animals such as white-tailed deer. In addition, feral swine compete with native wildlife for valuable resources, such as acorns that squirrels, deer, and turkey depend on during winter months.

Resources

• Florida's Exotic Wildlife Species Detail - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
• Global Invasive Species Database - Invasive Species Specialist Group
• Animal Diversity Web - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
• Wikipedia - Wikimedia Foundation, Inc
• Coping with Feral Hogs Website - Texas A&M University
• National Feral Swine Mapping System - Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study
• International Wild Pig Conference - Berryman Institute

Selected Images

Maps

Invasive Listing Sources

• Apalachicola Invasive Working Group
• Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area
• Florida Invasive Species Partnership
• Invasive Species of Concern in Georgia
• Maryland Invasive Species Council - Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland
• Michigan’s Prohibited and Restricted Species
• Mid-Atlantic Field Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species
• New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team 2017 Invasive Species List
• New York Regulated and Prohibited Invasive Species - Prohibited
• Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
• Southwest Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Mgmt. Area
• Wisconsin's Invasive species rule – NR 40

References