It's a love-hate relationship with Texas feral hogs

By JULIET BRISKIN | Staff writer

Ken Cearley, Texas Cooperative Extension wildlife associate from San Angelo, says there are two kinds of landowners - those with feral hogs and those that will soon have feral hogs. -Staff photo by Briskin

November 20, 2003 -- There are basically two types of landowners when it comes to the feral hog: those who like them and those who hate them.

For those that like them, it is generally the income provided by leasing the land for hunting that brings about such positive feelings; and for those that hate the feral hog, it is the damage to crops and livestock that elicits a deep hatred.

The Lampasas Cooperative Extension hosted a feral hog education day on Oct. 24, where landowners were provided a bevy of information about the animal.

"The feral hog in Texas is basically a domestic hog gone wild," explained Rick Taylor, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist. "It is the same species as the Russian boar, which is an Old World species not native to Texas."

According to Taylor, the feral hog should not be confused with the havelina, which is native to Texas and North America. "In Texas the feral hog is classified as an exotic, non-native species that can be hunted at anytime," he explained. "Hunting is not limited to a season and no bag limits exist, but you do have to have a license to hunt the feral hog."

Today the distribution of feral hogs includes almost all of Texas with the exceptions of some areas of the western Panhandle and the Trans-Pecos regions. "But they are even moving up into those areas as well," said Taylor. "Big Bend National Park has begun reporting problems with the feral hog."

The feral hog has been able to spread across the state so easily because it adapts to any type of habitat, it does not have any natural predators and humans have become so adept at disease eradication. "Other factors in the spread of feral hogs are habitat management and supplemental feeding,"

explained Taylor. "Everything the landowner is doing to improve their ranch for their livestock, is making habitat better for the wild hog. As for those landowners that throw out corn for the deer, the wild hogs thank you. They love it."

The feral hog is highly prolific and can breed as early as six months of age and will breed by nine months of age. The peek breeding seasons are spring and fall, but they do breed year-round, producing litters from four to 14 offspring. On average a female will only have one litter a year, but they are capable of delivering up to three litters each year.

Taylor explained that feral hogs are omnivorous, but are also opportunistic. "Our studies have shown that 93 percent of the wild hog diet is comprised of vegetation such as grass, forbs, roots, tubers, corn and nuts," stated Taylor. "Only a very small percent of their diet is made up of animal matter. Generally a hog is not an active predator, but given the opportunity, they will attack and kill whatever they can get a hold of."

The impact of feral hogs on the land, wildlife and livestock has been felt by landowners across the state. The hogs will root up the land and in one night can destroy countless acres of crops. Currently the only real way to control the hogs is through hunting and trapping. There are no approved chemical toxicants at this time that can be used to remove the feral hog.

Ken Cearley, Texas Cooperative Extension wildlife associate from San Angelo, explained there are two kinds of landowners, the kind that have feral hogs and the kind that will have feral hogs. "The way I look at it the hogs provide a great opportunity for the landowner to let someone pay them to remove their problem," he stated.

Cearley went on to explain that it is much more beneficial for a landowner to figure out a way, through hunting or wild hog trading, to make their existence profitable. "They aren't supposed to be here, but we are going to have to deal with them in one way or another."