Wild Hogs in Florida

1. Wild Hogs in Florida Photo by M.L. Smith

2. Photo by W. Frankenberger Photo by L. Hlasek What are they? • Feral hogs • Eurasian wild boar • Feral hog x Eurasian wild boar hybrid Sus scrofa

3. What are they? • Wild hogs (Sus scrofa) • Family: Suidae (true pigs) • Exotic USDA Photo Same as your typical barnyard pig! USDA Photo

4. What they are not • Collared peccary or Javelina (Tayassu tajacu) • Family: Tayassuidae (pig-like mammals) • Native to Southwest U.S. • None in Florida USFWS Photo

5. How did they get to Florida? • Explorers • Hernando de Soto (1539) • Ponce de Leon (1521)? Charlotte Harbor ? Illustrations by Floridahistory.com

6. Hogs spread throughout Florida • Explorers & Settlers • Native Americans Charlotte Harbor Illustration by Floridahistory.com

7. Hogs spread throughout the Florida • Free-ranging hogs Photo by Bowguns.com • Releases for hunting Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

8. What about those Eurasian Boar? • New Hampshire (1886) • New York (1900) • North Carolina/Tennessee (1912) • Texas (1919) • Washington State (1981) • Others? Photo by rw.ttu.edu

9. Florida Fish & WildlifeConservation Commission • Control nuisance animals • Improve hunting • This practice was discontinued Photos by Texasboars.com

10. So what kind of wild hogs are in Florida? • Feral hogs • Hybrids Photo by J. Allen

11. How many hogs are there? • 500,000+ in Florida • 1-2,000,000 in the Southeast • Several million in 35 states and provinces Photo by Buckandboar.com

12. Where do hogs live in Florida? • Statewide • Highest numbers

13. What do they look like? • Hoofed • Stocky with short legs • Long snout ending in a disk • Tusks Photo by W. Frankenberger

14. What do they look like? • Color varies • Difficult to tell feral hogs from Eurasian boar Photo by J. Allen

15. What do they look like? • Size and weight depend • Sex, age, genetics & environmental conditions • Males (boars) are bigger than females (sows) Photo by T. Croker Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

16. What do they look like? • Tusks Photo by J. Dunlap and M. Ludlow Photo by J. Dunlap and M. Ludlow • Hog shield Photo by L. Rue

17. Hog senses • Good sense of smell and hearing • Poor vision Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

18. What sounds do they make? • Alarm grunts • “pig sounds” Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

19. How else do they communicate? • Scent-posts • Tusking USDA Photo Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

20. How do you know they are there? • Tracks

21. How do you know they are there? • Wallows Photo by Texasboars.com Photo by Texasboars.com

22. How do you know they are there? • Rooting Photo by W. Frankenberger

23. How do you know they are there? • Rubbing Photo by Texasboars.com USDA Photo

24. How do you know they are there? • Scat Photos by Texasboars.com

25. Where do hogs live in Florida? • Prefer • Large forested tracts • Dense understory vegetation • Lots of food • Water • Few people Photo by W. Boyer

26. Photo by USGS Wild hog habitats Photo by USGS Photo by flsaf.org Photo by flsaf.org Photo by flsaf.org Photo by USGS

27. Where do hogs live in Florida? • Fewer animals with: • Intense agriculture • Urbanization • Little water Photo by csres.uteexs.edu Photo by Florida Photographic Collection

28. Habitat needs: Water • Keep cool • Control parasites Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

29. Habitat needs: Cover • Shade • Predators • Hunters Photo by W. Boyer

30. Habitat needs: Food • Hard & soft mast • Other plants and animals • Carrion Photo by P. Wray Photo by NOAA Photo by P. Wray

31. Breeding • Start breeding at 1 yr of age • Courtship • Fights • Copulation Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

32. Breeding • Breeding peaks in spring & fall • Farrow 2 litters of 1-13 piglets each Photo by R.P. Lawrence • Nest in shaded upland site • Nurse for 3 weeks Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

33. Breeding Photo by T.C. Crocker • Nutrition important Photo by Suwannee River Ranch • Boars solitary • Females in sounders Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

34. Surviving as a wild hog • Full grown in 3-5 years • Average life span: 4-5 years Photo by USFWS • Predators • Accidents • Disease • Starvation • Hunting Photo by Texasboars.com

35. How much space do wild hogs need? • 450-740 acres • Depends on food Photo by D. Hosking

36. When are wild hogs most active? • Depends on • Breeding condition • Temperature • Hunting Photo by Inheatscents.net Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

37. Problems associated with wild hogs • Competition with native wildlife Photo by K.M. Gale Photo by NOAA • Predation Photo by J. Valbuena

38. Problems associated with wild hogs • Feeding on crops, seeds & seedlings • Rubbing & tusking Photo by W.D. Boyer USDA Photo Photo by Texasboars.com

39. Problems associated with wild hogs • Rooting Photo by W. Frankenberger • Wallowing USDA Photo

40. Problems associated with wild hogs • Disease Photo by R. Stewart

41. Problems associated with wild hogs • Dangerous Photo by J. Dunlap & M. Ludlow Photo by J. Dunlap & M. Ludlow Photo by W. Frankenberger

42. Who owns wild hogs? • Landowners • Private land • Public land USDA Photo

43. Management of wild hog populations • Move them around • Removal & control Photo by J. Allen

44. Can they be controlled? • Control: maybe • Eradication: unlikely Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

45. Control measures: Hunting Photo by Texasboars.com

46. Control measures: Trapping Photo by S. Barlow Photo by M.S. Smith

47. Control measures: Trapping Photo by S. Barlow

48. Control measures: Shooting Photo by Inheatscents.net

49. Control measures: Exclusion Photo by S. Roberts

50. Wild hogs! • The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Photo by Suwannee River Ranch