Wild pigs are more accurately termed feral swine, which are considered an invasive species that poses a significant threat to the Commonwealth’s natural resources and agricultural interests. Management efforts are focused on rapid response and eradication to prevent the establishment of large, reproducing populations seen in many southern states. The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) regards feral swine as an injurious, non-native invasive species.
Defining Feral Swine and Their Presence in Pennsylvania
Feral swine are not native to North America and are classified as free-roaming members of the Sus scrofa species. They are typically a mix of escaped domestic pigs, Eurasian wild boars that were imported for hunting, and hybrids of the two. They exhibit the temperament of a wild animal while maintaining the high reproductive rate of domestic stock.
The presence of feral swine in Pennsylvania stems from a few primary sources. Historically, some populations arose from domestic swine that escaped from farms. More recently, the main source has been the intentional or accidental release of European wild boars from private hunting preserves that cater to sport hunters. Fences are often insufficient to contain these intelligent and powerful animals, leading to their establishment in the wild.
Due to aggressive management programs, established breeding populations in Pennsylvania are highly localized. Historically, populations were concentrated in certain areas, particularly in the south-central counties like Bedford and Fulton. Recent efforts have dramatically reduced their numbers, with the goal of eradicating them completely. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicates that the number of counties with established populations remains very low.
The Environmental and Economic Impact
The destructive behavior of feral swine causes significant damage. Their feeding habits involve extensive “rooting,” where they use their snouts to plow up soil in search of roots, tubers, and invertebrates. This action destabilizes the ground, destroys native plant life, and significantly contributes to soil erosion.
Rooting also degrades water quality, particularly near streams and wetlands, where their wallowing causes sedimentation. Feral swine compete with native wildlife, such as deer and turkeys, for food sources like acorns and mast crops. They also prey on small mammals, amphibians, and the eggs and young of ground-nesting birds.
Feral swine destroy valuable crops like corn, wheat, oats, and various vegetables by feeding on them and trampling the fields. They also damage livestock infrastructure, including fences and watering systems, which creates costly repairs for farmers.
Feral swine are known carriers of pathogens like Swine Brucellosis, Pseudorabies, and Tularemia, which pose a risk to domestic livestock, wildlife, and human health. An outbreak of Swine Brucellosis, for example, could devastate the domestic pork industry and necessitate the quarantine or sacrifice of entire herds.
State Management and Control Strategies
The Commonwealth has officially designated feral swine as an injurious, non-native, invasive species, granting the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) jurisdiction over their management. The PGC works in close partnership with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services to execute a comprehensive eradication strategy. This strategy prioritizes the professional removal of the animals to prevent their spread.
Control efforts focus on targeted methods, primarily using large corral traps to capture entire groups of swine, followed by euthanasia. This technique is far more effective than relying on sport hunting, which can often pressure the animals to disperse, potentially spreading them to new areas. The state strictly prohibits the release of any member of the Suidae family into the wild, a measure designed to cut off the source of new populations.
As a secondary control measure, the PGC has removed protection for feral swine statewide, allowing licensed hunters to take them year-round with no bag limits. However, this hunting is prohibited in specific counties where professional eradication operations are underway to avoid disrupting the trapping efforts. All successful takes by hunters or trappers must be reported to the PGC within 24 hours to help the agencies monitor the population and track their movements.