Thursday, July 8, 2010

Invasive Exotic Species: Feral Hogs

The same show on Animal Planet also featured Feral Hogs as an invasive exotic species of Florida.

Florida's feral hog population is second in the United States only to that of Texas. Feral hogs are found throughout the state in a variety of habitats from the southern Everglades to the northern hills of the Panhandle.

The hogs are native to Europe and Asia are aggressive mammals posing serious ecological, economic, aesthetic, medical and veterinary threats. Domestic pigs were introduced from Europe to the Americas by Spanish explorers. Over time, some pigs escaped or were intentionally released into the wild. Subsequently, free-ranging, feral populations established themselves on American soil.

Biologists estimate the nationwide population of feral pigs to be around four million animals, 500,000 of which are in Florida. Wild hogs can host many diseases and parasites, including cholera , tuberculosis, salmonella, anthrax, ticks, fleas, lice and others. Male pigs can be particularly intimidating, tipping the scales at up to 200 pounds. In some parts of the state, pigs are wreaking havoc on farms and saplings in regenerating forests. Efforts to keep the pigs under control include hunting, trapping and fencing, but it's a constant uphill battle. A pig can produce two, and sometimes more, litters a year, especially in southern Florida where conditions are perfect. And a litter can number a dozen. That's a lot of pigs.

The article states that the hogs usually don’t attack humans, but if they feel cornered they might become aggressive and possibly attack. The show on Animal Planet featured a first-hand experience of a woman who was attacked, so it is possible.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DyeHard/story?id=827155&page=1

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/publ/wlnotebook/pig.htm

http://texnat.tamu.edu/symposia/feral/feral-14.htm

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