Wild pig, also called feral pig, is any feral hog, Eurasian wild boar, or hog-boar hybrid that lives in the wild. It is a major pest in North America. The term feral hog describes offspring of domesticated swine in North America that have been released or escaped and became wild over a few or many generations. It is called the Eurasian wild boar in its native habitats in Europe, northern Africa, and Asia. Where Eurasian wild boars and feral hogs both occur, such as the southern United States, they freely interbreed and produce hybrid offspring, wild pigs.
Wild pigs have been introduced as an exotic species to a large number of the United States. They cause great damage by rooting (digging into the soil with their snouts) in search of food, resulting in the destruction of crops, livestock pastures, farm equipment, and native habitats. This leads to such negative environmental impacts as land erosion; clouding of waterways from eroded soil, leading to higher levels of bacteria in the water; and turf damage to green spaces like cemeteries, golf courses, lawns, and parks. Wild pigs can transmit diseases to other animals, including humans, and compete for food and space with native wildlife. Scientists estimate the total damage caused by wild pigs in the United States alone is about 1.5 billion dollars annually.
Adult wild pigs can become quite large. They may be 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) or longer and stand about 30 inches (0.75 meters) tall at the shoulder. Males often weigh 200 pounds (90 kilograms) or more. Females weigh 175 pounds (80 kilograms) or more. They may be solid in color, multicolored, or spotted, ranging from black to brown or red to tan or white. Wild pigs’ coats and other characteristics vary greatly because of their mixed ancestry.
Domesticated hogs were first introduced to the New World in Cuba in 1493, during Christopher Columbus’s second voyage. The hogs were released on the island, and feral populations soon resulted. In 1539, the Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto captured some descendants of these feral hogs for use as a mobile food supply. He then sailed to and landed near what is today known as Tampa Bay, Florida. From there, De Soto explored the southeastern United States. Throughout the journey, some of his feral hogs escaped. Today, some wild pig populations in this region can be traced back to these initial introductions made almost 500 years ago.
Wild pigs are found primarily in rural areas, but they may inhabit both suburban and urban areas as well. They can quickly become accustomed to the presence of humans if not threatened. Wild pigs can become aggressive if cornered or if an adult female, called a sow, feels her litter is threatened. The home range of wild pigs varies greatly, from dozens to thousands of acres. The size of the home range is often dictated by the availability of food, water, and escape cover. Wild pigs are opportunistic feeders, meaning that they take advantage of whatever food sources are easily accessible. They are capable of quickly shifting their diet as needed. But most of their diet is vegetation and crops.
Wild pigs travel in a group called a sounder, numbering from 6 to 100 individuals. A sounder is usually made up of a mature female and her current litter, her offspring from past litters, and their litters. Mature males, called boars, live mostly alone, but they sometimes travel in small groups of two or three.
Wild pigs have a keen sense of smell. They can smell odors up to 5 miles (8 kilometers) away. They also have good eyesight. Wild pigs may roam any time of the day or night. But they have become more nocturnal (active at night) because of pressure from humans trying to control wild pig populations in order to reduce the damage they cause.
Wild pigs have one of the highest reproductive rates of any large mammal worldwide. Females can reach breeding age when they are just three to six months old. Adult females usually have one to two litters per year, with about six piglets per litter. However, in some cases, a sow has given birth to as many as 12 piglets in a single litter. The life span of a wild pig is about 4 to 8 years.
