SCIENTIFIC NAME Sus scrofa

COMMON NAMES feral swine, wild hog, wild boar, razorback, piney woods rooter

HABITAT All habitats with a water resource, especially agricultural areas and wetlands.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Black, brown, or brindled. Juveniles may be striped. Average body length 5–6 ft.

WEIGHT 75–250 lbs.

REPRODUCTIVE RATE Populations increase rapidly because of their short gestation period (115 days), large litter size (6–8 piglets), and the ability of the sows to produce 1–2 litters/year each.

LIFESPAN Average of 1–2 years, known to live up to 9–10 years in the wild.

DISPERSAL & HOME RANGE Female and young stay together in groups called sounders. Mature males disperse, sometimes >100 miles. Female dispersal activities are unknown. From a recent study on Florida cattle ranches, home range size of females was 370 acres and males 741 acres. Home range sizes can be smaller (100 acres) or larger (4,200 acres) depending on available resources, and feral swine are known to travel farther for supplemental food as natural resources decrease.

8000-3000 BC

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1539

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1769

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1912

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1925

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1930

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1982

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2004

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FERAL SWINE

UF/IFAS - Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation - Range Cattle Research and Education Center - Rangeland Wildlife & Ecosystem Program - Ona, FL. Original publication date August 2018.

Wildlife of Florida Factsheets

Raoul K. Boughton • Bethany Wight

2016

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35 st

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Breeding

Habitat

StatusENDANGERED THREATENED CONCERN INVASIVE MIGRATORY

FALL

GRASSLAND

SPRING

OAK HAMMOCK

SUMMER

WETLAND FLATWOODS SCRUB

WINTER

HISTORY Feral swine are not native to the Americas and were introduced by Spanish explorers in the 1500s. In Florida, domesticated swine are thought to have first been introduced by explorers Juan Ponce de Leon in 1521 and Lucas Vazquez de Allyon in 1526, however, both expeditions failed and the fate of their pigs is unknown. In 1539, Hernando de Soto is credited with introducing and establishing pigs on the mainland, beginning near Tampa and traveling through 14 states. Later settlers and farmers used open range livestock practices, promoting the spread of swine. Feral swine are descendants of escaped or released domestic swine, hybrids of Eurasian wild boar x domestic swine, or wild boar in non-native habitat.

An Ecological and Agricultural Invader

PHOTO BY: REED BOWMAN

PHOTO BY: SANDY BURFORD

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2018

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An Equal Opportunity Institution. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension. Single copies of UF/IFAS Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county UF/IFAS Extension offices.

FERAL SWINE FAST FACTS

• Forage by rooting, which can harm ecosystems

• No sweat glands; require water and shade to cool in hot environments

• One of the highest reproductive rates of mammals in North America

• Typically found in groups called sounders; males may be solitary

DISTRIBUTION Previously presumed to be limited to the South by harsh winters, feral swine are now estimated to be breeding in 39 states. They have been spotted as far north as Michigan, North Dakota, and Canada. The largest populations are found in warm states such as Texas, California, Florida, and Hawaii. Population estimates in Florida are >500,000 which could be a great underestimate. Populations continue to expand and increase in numbers without proper management.

How You Can Help• Do not relocate or transport feral swine

• Control feral swine on your property

• Collaborate with neighbors to control large areas

• Work with your local wildlife agency regarding recommended control efforts

IMPACTS The most common type of damage by feral swine is from rooting. When swine root, they burrow into the soil with their snouts to find roots, tubers, fungus, etc. This rooting loosens the soil, destroys native vegetation, and modifies the chemistry and nutrients of the soil. Feral swine can greatly disrupt natural ecosystems, agricultural areas, livestock pastures, and residential areas. Feral swine also carry numerous diseases, some of which are transmittable to wild and domestic animals as well as humans. It is estimated that loss of agricultural products due to feral swine is >$2 billion/year in the United States.

Wild boars have tusks.

More information and factsheets at edis.ifas.ufl.edu

• Feral Swine: Trapping Techniques and Designs

• Wild Hogs in Florida: Ecology and Management

• Facts about Wildlife Diseases: Pseudorabies

Rooting is common along edges of wetlands

Wallows are often used in shady sites

Rubs on posts and trees are likely used as scent marks

Swine tracks can be identified Swine feces vary in size and color depending on local diet

Signs of Feral Swine

Distribution of Feral Swine in 2017. (Image courtsey of Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study and USDA)

Tracks

PHOTO BY: REED BOWMAN

http://edis.ifas.ufl.eduhttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw440https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw322https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw388