America's got a $2.5 billion wild hog problem. These states see the worst of it.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

What can grow five feet long, up to 400 pounds and is one of the most destructive invasive species in the U.S.?

Wild hogs are the correct answer! Wild hogs also called feral swine go by many names but are the same species as domesticated pigs found on farms.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, feral hogs cause approximately $2.5 billion in agricultural damages each year.

-snip-

Which states are most impacted by wild hogs?

Florida, Georgia and Texas have the most feral hog reports in the U.S, according to data from the University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/americas-got-2-5-billion-103857469.html

[Autumn]

1. Florida, Georgia and Texas. Somehow that seems so right.

I tried to give a fuck but just can't bring myself to care.

[k55f5r]

2. Here in Southern Arizona,

the Javalina are a real nuisance. At least once a month someone in our neighborhood has a horror story about attacks on their dogs, or charging humans. I personally witnessed a herd of 14 - 16 adult and juvenile pigs chasing a neighbor one night last year. What a helpless feeling - nothing that I could have done against that many pigs with their hair bristling and snorting rage. Fortunately, The neighbor escaped into a gated yard and got away!

[hunter]

3. Javalina are a native species.

Wild hogs are not.

[k55f5r]

4. not so much.

https://www.azgfd.com/species/javelina/

[hunter]

5. They most certainly are native, one of those species that adapted quickly...

... to environmental disturbances caused by man. Humans killed off the larger predators. Our sheep and cattle ate all the grass, creating a favorable environment for the peccary. This led to a peccary population explosion. What was once a rare and secretive animal became common.

[k55f5r]

6. I believe that irs more

of a climate change thing.
But, the Az dept of wildlife says that they are a relatively new transplanted species, Hunter.

[hunter]

8. I'm not sure that's an unbiased source.

The claim, one way or another, has political ramifications.

Unlike the European wild hogs, the javelina are very clearly a Holocene American species same as coyotes, opossums, armadillos, etc..

[k55f5r]

9. Is your gut telling you that?

Pepto-Bismol will fix it.

[hunter]

10. Do you have other sources?

What do you imagine Arizona looked like 600 years ago?

[NickB79]

7. They're exploding in Canada as well

Pigs have been sighted in North Dakota and 18 miles from the Minnesota border with Manitoba. A possible sounder (herd) was found in Wisconsin, but hopefully wiped out. They've completely overrun Saskatchewan.

The northern strain has a lot more Russian boar genetics, as they can survive -30F winters.

Maybe our 2500 wolves can keep them at bay.