Feral Swine - The Misconceptions

The feral swine population is spreading across the U.S. The United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services office is calling on sportsmen and women to be a part of the solution to stopping by being their eyes in the outdoors. USDA Wildlife Specialist Josh Wisdom says one of the mainstays of fighting a problem like feral swine is education gainst the misconceptions. Here are some facts about feral swine from the USDA:

• Feral swine are NOT native. They are invasive. They were domestic swine brought over by Spanish explorers as far back as the early 1500s. Back then, domestic swine roamed free.
• Feral swine are not solely located in Texas, OK, FL, and other southern states. Their population has expanded to include 39 states and their numbers are estimated at 5 million.
• Feral swine are not just found in rural areas. They are appearing in gardens, city parks, golf courses, and other common public locations in some states.
• The “hogzillas” found on social media pages and TV are not typical. Most feral pigs are 150 pounds or less. Because of crossbreeding, the look of a feral swine can vary. They can resemble domestic swine or may even look like traditional wild boar. It can be hard to identify feral swine on appearance alone.
• Feral swine are NOT to be confused with javelina (peccary), a native pig-like mammal in the southwest.
• Feral swine will continue to spread and cause extensive damage to public and private natural resources because of their own natural instincts, illegal trapping and transporting by people, and through accidental release and escape from domestic operations. 
• Over 30 diseases and 37 parasites are known to be carried by feral swine. These can be transmitted to other animals and, in the right circumstances, even people. In ag-rich states, like Iowa, the rise of feral swine numbers should be a BIG concern to farmers, hunters, and the public in general. In the event that their diseases spread to domestic livestock, it could damage not only our economy, but economies across the US.
• Feral swine cause more than $1.5 billion in damages and control costs per year, according to the USDA. Crops, native habitats, lawns, and pasture can be ruined in a matter of just a few nights.
• Feral swine are “efficient predators.” They have been known to eat small livestock and ground-nesting birds.

Last, but not, least, feral swine will rapidly destroy a native wildlife population for hunters, as Wisdom explains in this video clip:

How do you know you may have feral swine in your area? Look for signs of rooting, rubbing, wallowing, and tracks that appear over night or a few nights, when they are most active.

Be a part of the solutionat the first sign of feral swine.

1. Call APHIS (Animal Plant Health Inspection Service) toll-free at 1-866-487-3297 or your state natural resources office.
2. Do NOT relocate feral swine without proper permits. It is illegal in most states to trap and move feral swine.
3. If you raise domestic pigs, take proper measures to preveent the release of your pigs or interaction between the domestic and feral.

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