Origin: Europe
Impacts: Wild hogs, or wild boars, were introduced
400 years ago for hunters. Today the species has spread to
23 states and its total population numbers more than two million.
Florida has the second largest population of approximately
500,000 hogs.
This species is extremely damaging to the agricultural industry
costing the industry over $800 million per year. Wild boars
damage crops and transmit diseases to livestock. Diseases
also can be transmitted to humans.
Natural ecosystems are destroyed by wild boars. Hogs dig
up the ground while searching for food in a process called
rooting. This behavior destroys ground vegetation, reduces
habitat for nesting birds and other animals, causes soil erosion,
and can occur on very large patches of land. |
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Sus scrofa
Photo courtesy of Texas A & M, Wildlife and Fisheries
Sciences |
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