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The Truth About Feral Hogs

It is estimated that there are over 5 million feral hogs throughout the United States. According to the USDA, these animals are responsible for $1.5 billion in damages every year, among many other issues. They are known to cause a number of other issues, including the following.

  • A reduction in water quality due to erosion along river banks, as well as groundwater contamination caused by their fecal material, which can contain e-coli.
  • Harmful destruction and modification of natural landscapes.
  • The spread of multiple diseases to humans and domestic livestock including but not limited to:
    • Swine influenza virus
    • Tuberculosis
    • Bubonic plague
    • Tularemia
    • Hog cholera

Feral hogs are known to kill 2 billion animals every year including but not limited to:

  • Reptiles
  • Amphibians
  • Rodents
  • Ground nesting birds
  • Young sheep and goats, as well as young cattle and deer
distribution-of-feral-swine
feral-hog

The spread of external and internal parasites
that can affect humans and livestock:

  • Ticks
  • Fleas
  • Hog lice
  • Whipworms
  • Liver flukes
  • Trichinosis
  • Kidney worms
  • Stomach worms
  • Roundworms