Of all the invasive species, one that seems to surprise people is learning that wild hogs are non-native to North America. Feral hogs are one of the most damaging invasive species you'll find. With practically no predators other than humans, their numbers are growing at an uncontrollable rate. Recent studies show that the hog population has nearly tripled since the 1980s. It is estimated that feral hogs cause and upwards of 1.5 billion dollars annually in damages to crops and property.
Eat, Move, and Eat Some More
Hogs travel; in a single day, a group of pigs can cover miles of ground, leaving a path of destruction wherever they go. Their aggressive travel and eating patterns create a severe level of competition for native wildlife in the area. It also seems like if there is food in an area, the hogs will find it, and they will find it first! This competition for food sources is very damaging to native species like white-tail deer.
Adaptive
Unlike many myths out there, feral hogs are the furthest thing from being a dumb creature. Pigs are very smart and can adapt to practically any environment. Boars tend to travel ahead of the group, making them less vulnerable to hunters compared to a group of sows and piglets moving onto a deer feeder like a hurricane. Because they'll eat most of anything, hogs can adapt to their surroundings easily.
Growing Threat
As of today, there is no real scientific data that supports feral hogs have any positive impacts on the ecosystem and economy throughout North America. From competing with wildlife to potentially harboring and spreading diseases to livestock, hogs bring damage wherever they go. On top of everything else mentioned in this article, feral hogs reproduce at a rapid rate having multiple piglets per litter. Once a piglet has weaned off, it is ready to breed.
Cellular Hog Removal Services Put a Dent In Local Hog Populations
If you are dealing with feral hogs and the damages have become a serious problem, call Lone Star Trapping today! Since 2015 we've humanely removed over 11,000 hogs making a name for ourselves throughout Texas. Choose a hog removal company that is trusted and insured, choose LST.