Hybrid ‘super pigs’ are invading the US after running wild in Canada

[Dr. Who]

A hybrid cross between wild boars and domestic pigs are invading the United States. These “super pigs,” which first spread through Canada are now making their way down into the northern U.S. While it isn’t unusual for animals to cross national lines, the problem lies in the dangers that these feral swine pose to the ecosystem in the areas they are invading.

The root of the problem, according to a Field and Stream report comes from the early 2000s, when farms for wild boars loosed their hybrid super pigs after the market for farmed boars fell dramatically. The animals continued to breed and survive harsh weather conditions, giving rise to even more of the super pigs that they had been brought to Canada to create. In less than 20 years, the population has exploded.

As it stands, roughly 620,000 square miles in Canada is considered home to these wild super pigs, with more miles stretching into the United States as they move south. For native species in those areas, though, the issue is terrifying. That’s because these wild hogs feed on anything. Not only will they take down whitetail deer, but they’ll chow down on anything that crosses their path, including small birds.

Hybrid ‘super pigs’ are invading the US after running wild in Canada | BGR

[FindersKeepers]

From Field and Stream:

In less than 20 years, the wild—or feral—population exploded, in part due to the species’ extraordinarily high reproductive rate. Wild boars now roam approximately 620,000 square miles in Canada, primarily in the Prairie Provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta.

For native species, the issue is dire. “Wild hogs feed on anything. They gobble up tons and tons of goslings and ducklings in the spring. They can take down a whitetail deer, even an adult,” says Brook. “Originally, it was like ‘wow, this is something we can hunt.’ But it’s become clear that they’re threatening our whitetail deer, elk, and especially, waterfowl. Not to mention the crop damage. The downsides outweigh any benefit wild hogs may have as a huntable species.”

I hope it doesn't get out of control--but it sounds as if it could.

[Dr. Who]

From Field and Stream:





I hope it doesn't get out of control--but it sounds as if it could.

They're also quite smart, so hunting them down isn't easy. If they find themselves being hunted in the daytime, they switch to foraging at night.

[DGUtley]

The ones we have here are a huge problem. This isn't good.

[FindersKeepers]

They're also quite smart, so hunting them down isn't easy. If they find themselves being hunted in the daytime, they switch to foraging at night.

That's crazy. We don't have them here, but they do in Oklahoma and I've heard they can be dangerous.

[carolina73]

They're also quite smart, so hunting them down isn't easy. If they find themselves being hunted in the daytime, they switch to foraging at night.

The article says basically the same thing but in video form.




We have feral pigs in our are but you don't notice them until the hurricanes hit and they are driven out of the low swamp land. Then it is not unusual to see groups of them walking down the state highways

[Peter1469]

Be careful around them. They will eat you if you are a typical clow with the ear buds in.

[zelmo1234]

They're also quite smart, so hunting them down isn't easy. If they find themselves being hunted in the daytime, they switch to foraging at night.

If the areas are having trouble they will have to allow night hunting, I know that we go down to TX every year and help the Rancher with the
Hogs down there, take a couple home and donate the rest to hunters for the hungry,

If you allow night hunting it is not that hard, and a lot of Military and Security like to help as it is great practice.

Plus they are Tasty to say the least and better for you than domestic pork

[zelmo1234]

The other thing that people don't understand is that a domestic pig while not having all of the traits of a wild boar, will quickly adapt if they escape and or are turned loose.

I think that it takes about 3 generations, back in the 80's pork prices got so low that farmers would lose money if they raised them. Many just turned them loose thinking they would die or someone would capture them and raise them.

What they found out is they quickly became wild and even grew hair

Can a domesticated pigs become feral? But yes, pigs will easily turn feral if they get loose, and before long they’re indistinguishable from pigs that were born in the wild. They even grow hair.

[countryboy]

The ones we have here are a huge problem. This isn't good.

We have them in Ohio? I've never seen one.