Natasha+McLaren


 * __Feral Pigs (Sus Scrofa)__**

**__General Information:__** Feral Pigs are invasive species living in many different areas of the United States. First introduced in the 1500's from Euroasia by Spanish Explorers and later in 1800's by Russians that wanted to use them as a food sourse.(1) Feral Pigs are generally red, brown and black in color. They can weigh from 77-440 pounds depending on whether the pig is female or male. Females weigh much less than males.(1) These invasive pigs can live from 15-25 years. They mate at any time of the season and usually once a year. At 6 months, the feral pigs become fertile and can have 4-12 piglets in one litter. The mother pig is pregnant for about 115 days before the piglets are born and they are weaned after only 3 weeks.(1) This animal is a generalist which means they will eat almost anything.(3) They will eat any plant or small animal that comes there way and they mostly feed heavily at dawn and then again at dusk. What causes this invasive species to be so successful is the fact that they are generalists and they have the ability to easily adapt. Their large robust bodies, snouts specially developed for rooting up the ground, omnivorous diet and adaptive activity patterns allow them to live in a wide range of habitats. They especially collect acorns and well as hickory and beech nuts in the fall.During othe seasons they eat forbs, grasses, leaves, berries and other fruits, roots and tubers, corn and other agricultural crops, insects, crayfish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, mice, eggs of ground-nesting birds, young rabbits, fawns and young livestock, such as lambs, calves, kids. They can also eat large animals that are weak due to injury or sickness.(1) They battle and defend themselves with their huge tough tusks while their shoulders and hides are very rough and hard to break through. Though the Pigs have these great defenses, they don't really use them in the U.S. Native predators do not really prey on this exotic animal. They are not recognized as a food sourse in the areas they reside.(1)
 * __Detailed Description:__**

**__Habitat and Distribution:__** The Feral Pigs were native the the Euroasia areas. They can strive at any place that has an abundant food and water supply and areas that provide good shelter.(3) The pigs are most successful in warmer and wetter regions.(2) They reside in 23 U.S states including Texas, Oregon, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Gulf of Mexico, California, Hawaii and Florida. They were introduced initially by Spanish Explorers but in 1892, 50 Feral Pigs were released into New Hampshires Blue Mountains by the Germans. Russians also released the pigs in North Carolina in a preserve next to the Tennessee border in 1910 and 1912. Russians again let loose some pigs in California in 1925 and then on Santa Cruz Islands. These were all hunting preserves, but many of the pigs got loose and populated around the United States.(1) **__Impacts:__** The only positive impact these Feral Pigs have on our ecosystem is that some hunters hunt them for fun and for food. The pigs have mostly and negative impact on the ecosystem. They can spread exotic diseases to domestic livestock.(2) Their wallowing causes muddy water which effects ponds and wetlands. This also creates algea blooms which destroyed aquatic vegetation and lowers water quality The pigs use their tusks to dig and uproot leaves near watercourses which leads to erosion around the banks.(1) They cause potential crop loss and destruction to fields and fenses. As a result many financial situations occur. They also compete with many native animals that are essential to the ecosystem like the White Tailed Deer in Wisconsin.(1) They spread diseases that can also effect humans. Pseudorabies, brucellosis and tuberculosis are all life threatening diseases that can be spread by these pigs.

Americans are mostly trying to eliminate the species. Hunting and Traps were the main method of seizing the animals, but they pigs are smart and somehow evade the traps (2). Texas A&M is trying to develop a birth control pill that will stop the reproduction of the Feral Pigs, but will not cause other animals to be effected. If all else fails, some lethal methods of control could be used to eliminate the species. Arial hunters that hunt through helicopters, hunting with dogs, or shooting at night when pigs are asleep or eating. Wire mesh fencing or electric fenses are also being considered.(4) media type="youtube" key="9ntKyFWOoNI" height="344" width="425" align="right"
 * __Control Measures: __**

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 * Video of Pig Destruction in Texas**

Citations: (4)Paulik, Laurie. “Wildlife Damage Management.” //colostate.eu//. N.p., 5 Feb. 2008. Web. 14 Dec. 2009. . (1)Salwey, Mary Kay. “Feral Pigs.” //state.wi.us//. N.p., 10 Mar. 2009. Web. 14 Dec. 2009. (2)“Wild Boar.” //invasivespeciesinfo.gov//. N.p., 18 Aug. 2209. Web. 14 Dec. 2009. . (3)“Wild Boar.” //oklahomainvasivespecies.okstate.edu//. Oklahoma State University, 2007. Web. 3 Dec. 2009. .