Wild hogs, also known as feral hogs, are a formidable and increasingly problematic species across the United States. Their numbers have exploded in recent decades, with estimates ranging in the millions. These adaptable creatures can thrive in a variety of habitats, from forests to agricultural lands. While they are active throughout the year, their behavior is influenced by factors such as food availability and weather conditions. Wild hogs are omnivores with a voracious appetite, consuming a wide range of plants, insects, and even carrion. The hog problem, used to only be an issue on farms and ranches here in Texas, but as our population of humans (and hogs) has exploded, we are increasingly seeing hogs in neighborhoods and backyards.
Signs of the Animal on Your Property
If you suspect wild hogs are on your property, there are several signs to look for. The most obvious evidence is direct sightings, but other indicators include:
- Root damage: Wild hogs love to root for food, leaving behind distinctive, overturned soil.
- Damaged crops: These pests can cause significant damage to gardens, crops, and lawns.
- Mud wallows: Wild hogs often create mud wallows for cooling and parasite removal.
- Dead animals: Wild hogs are known to prey on smaller animals, such as deer fawns.
- Damaged Fencing: In order to gain access into or out of an area, these hogs are known to break through fences, rip down barbed wire, or even break through parts of barns and other structures.
Hogs Breeding Season
Wild hogs have a flexible breeding season, with sows capable of reproducing multiple times a year. Typically, breeding occurs in the late fall and winter months. Gestation lasts approximately three months, resulting in litters of 4 to 12 piglets. The young are weaned within a few months and can reach sexual maturity by the following year. While this is not reproducing like smaller mammals (rabbits or mice for example), it is still at a rate that quickly grows the population.
Fun fact: Wild hogs have an incredible reproductive rate. A sow can produce two litters of up to 12 piglets per year, contributing to their rapid population growth.
What Role They Provide in the Ecosystem
The negative impacts of wild hog populations outweigh the benefits of hogs, especially at the numbers of hogs we are dealing with today. Despite their destruction, there is a small role that they do play in the ecosystem. As omnivores, they help to control populations of insects, rodents, and other small animals. Additionally, they can contribute to seed dispersal by consuming fruits and nuts and depositing the seeds in new locations.
Fun Fact: Feral hogs caused an estimated $2.5 billion in damage across the US in 2023.
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How to Make Your Property Less Inviting
Protecting your property from wild hogs requires a multi-faceted approach. Here are some effective strategies:
- Secure food sources: Store all food, including pet food, in airtight containers. Avoid leaving food scraps or garbage exposed.
- Remove attractants: Clean up fallen fruit and remove bird feeders to reduce food availability for wild hogs.
- Fencing: Construct a sturdy fence to deter wild hogs. The fence should be at least 4 feet tall and buried at least 6 inches underground.
- Repellents: There are various commercial repellents available, including those based on hot pepper or predator urine.
- Habitat modification: Create unfavorable conditions for wild hogs by removing brush piles and potential hiding spots.
- Trapping and relocation: In some cases, trapping and relocating wild hogs may be necessary. However, this should be done under the guidance of wildlife professionals.
Clearing Out Hogs
Given the overpopulation of hogs throughout the US, the best management of hogs is to focus on reducing the population in an attempt to reach a more sustainable number. If we could reduce the population, the billions of dollars of annual damage would go down as well. However, given their reproductive abilities, it will take a large and coordinated effort to get the population down to a healthy level. The best way to address problems on your property is to trap and exterminate these hogs. Prickly Pear is experienced in managing hogs around Texas and can help if you have hogs running wild on your property.
