Wild Hogs - History Scientific Pedigree

Sus scrofa

History and Ecology of Eurasian Wild Boar Wild Feral Hogs in the Domestication

Domestic Southeast Swine Old World New World

Dr. Jack Mayer Feralization Savannah River National Laboratory X Aiken, South Carolina Feral Hog Hybrids Eurasian Wild Boar

Wild Hogs - History Wild Hogs - History Scientific0 Pedigree 60 120 Scientific Pedigree

Sus scrofa Sus scrofa

Eurasian Eurasian Wild Boar Wild Boar 40 Domestication 40 Domestication

Domestic Domestic Swine Swine Old World Old World New World New World Wild Hog (or Pig or Swine) Feralization Feralization X X 0 0

Feral Hog Hybrids Eurasian Feral Hog Hybrids Eurasian Wild Boar Wild Boar

0 60 120

Wild Hogs - History Wild Hogs - History History in the Southeast History in the Southeast

• Wild hogs have a long • Pure Eurasian wild boar history in the Southeast introduced into NC in 1912 • Populations date back to • the mid 1500s Fenced hunting preserve on Hooper • Derived from domestic Bald swine that went wild (i.e., • Animals escaped becoming feral hogs) enclosure Hooper Bald, • Feral hogs were widespread • Hybridized with feral NC 1912 in the Southeast by the hogs in surrounding early 1900s area

1 Wild Hogs - History Wild Hogs - History History in the Southeast History in the Southeast

Hooper Bald • Denman introductions Secondary in Texas: Introductions • Aransas NWR Edwards Plateau - early 1940s • Powderhorn Ranch Powderhorn Ranch - 1939 • Edwards Plateau Aransas NWR - 1930 introduction • Currently all states in

Scale in Miles SE have at least some 0 200 400 populations with wild 0 322 644 Scale in Kilometers boar ancestry

Wild Hogs - History Wild Hogs - History AR

History in the Southeast KY WV History in the Southeast KY WV TN OK OK VA • In 1900, only three • In 1900, only three NC of the states in the of the states in the SE did not have SE did not have wild hogs wild hogs • By the 1970s, all • By the 1970s, all states in SE had states in SE had wild hogs wild hogs • Recent expansion • Recent expansion seen in most states seen in most states LA SC AL in SE in SE GA FL TX MS

Wild Hogs - History Wild Hogs - History AR AR History in the Southeast KY WV History in the Southeast KY WV TN TN OK VA OK VA • In 1900, only three • In 1900, only three NC NC of the states in the of theBetween states in the 2000 and 2009, SE did not have SE did not have wild hogs wildwild hogs hogs were reported • By the 1970s, all • By thein 1970s, 45 of all the 50 states in states in SE had states in SE had wild hogs wild hogs the USA • Recent expansion • Recent expansion seen in most states LA SC seen in most states LA SC in SE AL GA FL in SE AL GA FL TX MS TX MS

2 Wild Hogs - Ecology Wild Hogs - Ecology Size, Shape and Color Size, Shape and Color

• Males are larger and heavier than females • Average adult weights: • Males – 200 lbs. • Females – 175 lbs. • Born at <2 pounds “Half-Ton Hog Phenomenon” • 30 inches at shoulder • Total length is 5 to 6 feet

Wild Hogs - Ecology Wild Hogs - Ecology Size, Shape and Color Size, Shape and Color

• Males are larger and • Coat coloration is heavier than females highly variable (e.g., • Average adult weights: solid, spotted, • Males – 200 lbs. belted, etc. • Females – 175 lbs. • Most variation is • Born at <2 pounds due to the mixed ancestry of these • 30 inches at shoulder animals (feral hog • Total length is 5 to 6 crossed with wild feet boar)

Wild Hogs - Ecology Wild Hogs - Ecology Food Habits/Diet Habitat Requirements • Wild pigs are classified as • Adaptable to a wide opportunistic omnivores variety of habitats • “If it has a calorie in it, • and they can get their Need year-round mouth around it, wild pigs access to: will eat it” • Food and water • Typical composition of • Shade diet: • • 88% plant matter Escape cover • 10% animal matter • Recent increase of • 2% fungi numbers in urban • <1% misc. (e.g., soil, rocks, habitats sticks, garbage)

3 Wild Hogs - Ecology Wild Hogs - Ecology Reproduction Social Unit Organization • Very high reproductive • Basic unit - maternal or potential family group (i.e., sow with her litter of piglets) • Early sexual maturity (3-6 months of age) • Mature males solitary • Large litters • Multiple family groups of related sows as pigs get • Average of 6 close to being weaned • Maximum of 16 • Large groups (100+ • Breed year-round animals) can occur • Multiple litters per year around a localized attraction or resource

Wild Hogs - Ecology Wild Hogs - Ecology Home Range Daily Activity Pattern • Exhibit a “home range” behavior • Difficult to regard • Average of 4 sq. mi. them as either diurnal or nocturnal • Maximum of 50 sq. mi. • Varies by location • Varies depending on 4000 • Intense hunting 3500 spatial availability of food, pressure and human 3000 2500 Interval water, shade and escape activity will drive Movement 2000 Rate (m) cover them to be 1500 1000 • Home range composition: nocturnal 500 0 • 0000- 0200- 0400- 0600- 0800- 1000- 1200- 1400- 1600- 1800- 2000- 2200- • Seasonal variation 0200 0400 0600 0800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 Core areas Time Interval • Network of paths

Wild Hogs - Ecology Wild Hogs - Ecology Movement Pattern Mobility • Drifting or wandering Wild pigs can: movement pattern • Run up to 30 mph • Move in relation to • Jump a 3-ft fence supporting resources • Swim across 2 miles of • Disturbance will open water cause them to move • Turn sharp corners while • Capable of long-range movement over the running short-term (up to 200 • Ascend very steep inclines miles) • Jump/climb over 5-6’ corral trap walls

4 Wild Hogs - Ecology Wild Hogs - Ecology Senses Wild Pig Tracks The Nose Knows! • Typical cloven- • • Smell - Excellent Hearing - Fair hoofed print • 5-7 miles over • Highest role in thick surface cover • Resembles a • 25 feet below grade • Unknown sounds or rounded “W” • Sight - Good noise may cause • Lateral or pigs to go into a • Field of vision is 260 “freeze” or alert dewclaw prints to 275 degrees posture often present • Some binocular • • vision “Touch” (Taste) Deer tracks – toe • • “See” threat over 1 Done with the mouth print are pointed mile away • “Mouth” objects to evaluate them

Wild Hogs - Ecology Wild Hogs - Ecology Wallowing and Rubs Nests and Beds

• Wallow to cool • Build two types of themselves unique structures: • Can be almost any • Farrowing nests wet depression • Resting or loafing • Use rubs for beds comfort and mud • Somewhat similar in removal appearance • Rubs are not always • associated with Can be simple to wallows very complex

Wild Hogs - Ecology Wild Hogs – History and Ecology Aggressive Behavior Questions? • Wild pigs can be very aggressive • Typically when cornered or threatened • 5-10 people killed annually due to wild pig attacks • Do not “like” dogs

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