Wild pigs, also known as feral hogs or wild boars, are indeed present in Tennessee. Their presence poses a significant and growing concern across the state. These animals are considered a destructive invasive species due to the extensive damage they inflict.
Origin and Spread
Wild pigs are not native to North America. Their history in the United States dates back to the 1500s when early European explorers and settlers introduced domestic swine as a food source. Over time, some of these pigs escaped or were released from captivity, leading to the establishment of feral populations. Later, in the early 1900s, Eurasian wild boar were introduced to the U.S. for hunting purposes, and interbreeding with feral domestic pigs created hybrid populations.
In Tennessee, wild pigs were first noted in the early 20th century, initially confined to about 15 counties. Their population rapidly expanded due to high reproductive rates, with sows producing multiple litters annually, each containing numerous piglets. Their adaptability to diverse habitats and a lack of natural predators also contributed to their spread. Illegal releases and transport by individuals seeking hunting opportunities further accelerated their distribution across the state, leading to their presence in nearly 80 of Tennessee’s 95 counties.
Identifying Wild Pigs
Recognizing wild pigs involves observing their physical characteristics and common signs of their presence. They generally appear leaner than domestic pigs, with coarse, bristly hair, longer, more pointed snouts, and prominent tusks in adults. Their coloration can vary widely, from black, brown, red, to spotted patterns, due to extensive crossbreeding. Piglets often display stripes or spots that fade as they mature.
Beyond visual identification, wild pigs leave distinct signs. Rooting, where they use their snouts to dig up soil for food, is a primary indicator, leaving large areas looking plowed. Wallowing areas, muddy depressions where pigs cool themselves, are also common. Tracks, often more square-shaped and blunter-toed than deer tracks, and rubs on trees or posts from pigs scratching, also indicate their presence.
Impact on Tennessee
Wild pigs inflict significant damage across Tennessee’s agricultural, environmental, and public health sectors. Their rooting behavior causes extensive destruction to agricultural crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat, also damaging pastures and irrigation systems. This damage has an estimated economic impact of over $26 million, with nearly $2 million spent on control efforts.
Environmentally, their destructive rooting leads to soil erosion and water quality degradation through sedimentation and nutrient runoff. They disrupt native plant communities and wildlife habitats, competing with native species for food resources like acorns and preying on vulnerable animals such as ground-nesting birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fawns. Their omnivorous diet allows them to consume almost anything, further impacting ecosystems.
Wild pigs are also carriers of numerous diseases and parasites that can affect livestock, pets, and humans. They transmit diseases such as pseudorabies virus, brucellosis, leptospirosis, salmonella, and E. coli. These pathogens threaten the commercial swine industry and can lead to human illness, often through contact with infected animals or consumption of undercooked meat.
Managing Their Population
Managing wild pig populations in Tennessee involves a multi-faceted approach, primarily led by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Wild pigs are classified as a destructive species, making it illegal to possess, transport, or release live wild hogs in the state. This classification removes incentives for illegal stocking that previously exacerbated their spread.
Landowners have several legal control options on their private properties, including year-round daylight shooting with no bag limit. Trapping with bait is also permitted outside of big game hunting seasons. The TWRA offers landowner exemptions that allow for additional control methods, such as night shooting with artificial light, and permits designated individuals to assist with control efforts. The agency also partners with USDA Wildlife Services to provide landowner assistance, including trapping programs. Public education is another component, encouraging reporting sightings and damage to the TWRA.