Destructive, Formidable, Invasive: How is the U.S. Managing the Feral Hog Population?

With a population of over 6 million nationwide and causing up to $2.5 billion in damage annually to crops, forestry, livestock and pastures, the feral hog is one of the most destructive, formidable invasive species in the U.S., the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) says.

Known as a wild boar, razorback, feral hog or wild pig—to name a few, this species is known to adapt to nearly any habitat, reproduce at high rates and has few natural predators. Populations also pose risks to human health and safety as they can carry parasites and diseases such as pseudorabies and foodborne illnesses such as E. coli, toxoplasmosis, and trichinosis, USDA APHIS says.

To help protect agricultural and natural resources, property, animal health and human health and safety, APHIS established the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program in 2014. This has led to collaboration between several stakeholders, including states, tribes, universities and the public, as well as Canada and Mexico to support cross-border activities, APHIS explains.

To date, this initiative has worked with 41 states and 3 territories, removing all feral swine from 11 states, including Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

Texas and California have also ramped up hunting measures to help control their wild pig populations.

Additionally, “the 2018 Farm Bill provided funding for APHIS and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to create the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program,” USDA APHIS says, targeting areas in the U.S. with high feral swine populations, such as the southeastern region.

African swine fever remains a concern across the globe. Many countries with confirmed cases, such as Italy and Hong Kong, trace their outbreaks back to wild pig populations.

APHIS and its partners continue to aim to limit the expansion of feral swine populations and the damage they cause.