Damage to Agriculture

 

Feral Pigs or Wild Boars are one of the most important invasive species in the south of the United States because of its ability to destroy agriculture field, habitat and damage natural, cultural and historical resources.

You may know this invasive animal by many of its names, Feral Swine, Feral Pig, Wild boar or Wild Pig.  The bottom line is that this animal is not native to America.  They were first brought to America in the 1500 by early explorers and settlers as a source of food.  Through the years, many of these animals were left alone to live in the wild and through repeated introductions of various European species, the wild pigs in America became more aggressive and became a harmful and very destructive invasive species.  Its ability to reproduce twice a year with up to six piglets per littler and its rapid geographic expansion has made this species one of the most wanted in more than 35 states in the nation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The damage caused to agriculture is mostly by consuming it or rooting, trampling and wallowing in crop fields.  The most commonly crop fields damaged by feral pigs are sugar cane, corn, grain sorghum, wheat, oats, peanuts and rice.  Feral pigs are not discriminating animals, they also damage vegetable and fruit crops such as lettuce, spinach, melons, and pumpkins.  Feral pigs not only target crop fields but also can devastate a pine plantation or other tree plantation before the trees get big enough.  They can chew on the green fleshy leaves and stun their growth and eat their roots and in the process trampled anything in their way in and out of their daily activity.  Feral pigs can turn almost any crop into a meal.