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FAQ #945

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Why is it so difficult for officials to eradicate the feral pig population?

Related resource areas: Wildlife Damage Management


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Wild pigs are intelligent animals and readily adapt to changing conditions. They may modify their response to humans fairly rapidly if it benefits their survival. Wild boars have a greater capacity to invade colder and more mountainous terrain than do other wild pigs. Feral hogs feed during daylight hours or at night, but if hunting pressure becomes too great during the day, they will remain in heavy cover at that time and feed at night. In periods of hot weather, wild pigs remain in the shade in wallows during the day and feed at night.

Additionally, for various reasons, some do not want the feral pig to be eliminated, despite the hazard to habitat, so they release pigs in new or unoccupied areas. Pigs reproduce readily, so even a few pigs remaining after an eradication program can repopulate the area.

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Wild Pigs

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