From farmlands to natural habitats, wild hogs are indiscriminate in their destruction. These aggressive creatures not only pose a threat to native wildlife and livestock but also serve as carriers of diseases. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has reported a significant rise in the prevalence of wild hogs, with sightings now registered in 80 out of the state’s 95 counties. Despite efforts to curb their numbers, including a statewide hunting season without limits, controlling the spread of feral hogs remains a challenge. Read on to discover more about these invasive animals and the difficulties in managing their populations.
Wild Hogs vs. Domestic Pigs
While both wild boars and farm-raised pigs belong to the same species, Sus scrofa, there are notable differences between the two. Wild boars are smaller in size with larger tusks, weighing between 130-220 pounds. Their lean bodies are equipped with coarse hair and sharp tusks, emphasizing their strength in the head and shoulders. In contrast, domestic pigs bred for consumption have larger hindquarters, shorter snouts, and tusks, and can weigh over 700 pounds. The distinction extends to their tails as well, with wild boars boasting straight tails while domestic pigs have curly ones. In terms of temperament, wild boars exhibit aggressive and destructive behavior driven by their survival instincts, while domestic pigs tend to be more docile due to selective breeding.
Wild Hogs in Tennessee
The presence of wild hogs in Tennessee has surged in recent years, causing millions of dollars in agricultural losses. These animals were originally documented in only 15 counties, but now, they have spread to 80 counties across the state. In a surprising turn of events, wild boars were sighted within the city limits of Knoxville in January 2014, wreaking havoc on urban landscapes before being dealt with. However, most encounters with feral hogs occur in rural and forested areas outside of urban centers.
Adaptable Opportunists
Feral hogs are versatile creatures capable of thriving in diverse environments. Their ideal habitat is one abundant in resources, making rural and forested regions prime locations for their habitation. These crepuscular creatures are most active during the twilight hours of dusk and dawn, making them elusive to human observation. Despite their stealth, the damage they leave behind is unmistakable, ranging from predation on native wildlife and livestock to the destruction of commercial crops like corn, oats, and wheat. Their rooting and trampling further compound the agricultural losses, resulting in diminished crop yields.
“Wild hogs are a significant nuisance to farm and forest crops,” explains Heather Slayton, Tennessee’s 10th State Forester and Assistant Commissioner for the Forestry Division. This damage results in millions of dollars in lost revenue for Tennessee farmers annually and contributes to a staggering $1.5 billion in losses nationwide.
Wild boars are prolific reproducers, capable of doubling their population in as little as four months. Aside from causing widespread devastation to crops and livestock, these animals also serve as vectors for diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Therefore, it is crucial to take precautions such as wearing gloves when handling a wild boar carcass or raw hog meat.
Efforts to control wild hog populations in Tennessee are led by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) in collaboration with the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) through the Wild Hog Working Group (WHWG). This group plays a pivotal role in developing science-based solutions and policies aimed at reducing the growth of wild hog populations in Tennessee and other Southeastern states.
One of the initial strategies, implementing a statewide hunting season with no bag limit, had unintended consequences as individuals releasing feral hogs for hunting purposes inadvertently worsened the problem. Consequently, it is now illegal to sell, transport, or stock feral hogs in Tennessee.
Once established, wild hog populations prove challenging to control due to their rapid reproduction, adaptability, intelligence, and lack of natural predators in the region, apart from bears and coyotes. However, humans remain the primary predator of wild hogs in Tennessee.
The proliferation of wild hogs has reached infestation levels, with these animals now present in 80 out of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Efforts to combat this issue are ongoing to mitigate the economic and ecological impact of wild hogs in the state.
