Feral Hogs are one of the most prevalent creatures living in the wild, feral hog removal is such a problem that there are TV series made it. A large boar hog can weigh over 250 pounds, though most hogs weigh in around 150 pounds. A boar is identified by two long tusks in his lower jaw. The sows (females) do not have the same long tusks. If hunted, the sow is often used for meat.
Feral hogs are an ever growing nuisance across North America and much of the world. Feral hogs are opportunistic omnivorous feeders that eat almost anything they come across including grass, nuts, berries, carrion, nests of ground nesting birds, roots, tubers, refuse, insects, and small reptiles. Feral hogs vigorously root up the soil in search of these food items and are capable of destroying acres and acres of land in a single night destroying grasses, shrubs, trees, landscaping, agricultural fields, and damaging water retention and drainage areas such as levies, dams, and canals. Government statistics in 2008 indicated that feral pigs cause an estimated $800 million of property damage per year in the U.S. alone and that number continues to rise. Most states in the U.S. have declared feral hogs to be a nuisance invasive species and spend large amounts of money in efforts to control them. Feral hogs not only damage property but also kill, consume, and out compete many native plant and animal species. Texas is home to the largest population of feral hogs in the U.S. with an estimated population in excess of 2 million out of the estimated national population of over 4 million. Despite countless efforts at feral hog removal, these population numbers continue to rise as they are capable of reproducing at rapid rates. Female hogs, known as sows, are sexually mature at 8 months of age and are capable of having two litters per year with each litter potentially containing up to 14 piglets.
