Page 17 - Abacoa Community News - January '24

Abacoa, Page 17
Northern Notes

Feral Hogs – A Growing wild/feral. Additionally, Russian boars were introduced
to the United States in the 1900s for sport hunting.
Problem Interbreeding between escaped domestic pigs and boars
has created hybrids with the most robust characteristics
By Katie Roundtree, of each. Wild hogs are found in all 67 Florida counties
Director of Finance and and at least 35 states today. Over 500,000 are estimated
Administration Northern in Florida, with approximately 6 million nationwide.
Palm Beach County The wild hog population continues to expand as they
Improvement District become used to different climates. They are found in
Feral hogs have been various habitats but prefer oak-cabbage palm hammocks,
in Florida since the 1500s, freshwater marshes and sloughs, pine flatwoods, and
when they were initially open agricultural areas. In addition, they have few natural
brought to North America predators. Bobcats, coyotes and panthers can prey on
by European explorers smaller hogs, but man is the most significant predator of twice as large. Living in groups called sounders, they
and settlers who sailed wild hogs. damage crops, commercial and personal property and
here looking for gold and They are a destructive, invasive species, called by environmentally sensitive land. They have litters of four
a western passage to China. They were brought with the many names, including wild hogs, wild boars, feral to eight young and can reproduce twice yearly. Feral
settlers on ships as a food source in the New World. Over swine, or razorbacks. Wild hogs grow to about 3 to 5 swine are muscular and strong and can run up to 30 miles
the years, some domesticated hogs got loose and became feet long and weigh 75 to 250 pounds, but some can be per hour. Like deer and domestic pigs, feral swine have
cloven hooves. Although wild swine tracks look similar
to deer tracks, they have a blunter tipped toe, and their
tracks have a square shape compared to the pointed heart-
shaped tracks of deer.
Hogs are omnivores, meaning they feed on plants and
animals. To feed, they root up the earth with their snouts
and feet to find plants, grubs and small animals. If the soil
is soft, depending on the size of the group of hogs, they
can dig down almost 2 feet and clear one to two acres per
night. Because they are usually active at night, feral swine
are less frequently seen during daylight hours, particularly
in hot, humid climates. It may be easiest to identify feral
swine in your area by looking for signs of damage.
Wild hogs can destroy environmentally sensitive
land and prey on native wildlife, competing with native
species for food and resources. Severe hog-rooting
can cause erosion along lakes and canals, leading to
sediment buildup and increased nutrients that deteriorate
water quality and increase algae growth. They assist in
spreading invasive plant species with their droppings and
providing germination sites through rooting.
Feral pigs are known to be dangerous to people,
particularly when they travel in herds with their young.
They have also been known to be aggressive toward dogs
and other pets.
The enormous tusks that protrude from the boar’s
lower jaw are the trademark of the wild boar. Boars use
these tusks – which are actually canine teeth – to dig and
root for food, but they also can and will use them for
defense.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture also writes that
feral swine can carry diseases and parasites that may
affect people, pets, livestock and wildlife. Some diseases,
such as pseudorabies, are fatal to cats and dogs that may
be exposed to direct contact with a feral swine carcass.
The only way to control the population of wild hogs
is through trapping and hunting. Adequate fencing will
keep them out of yards and gardens. Wild Hog Scram
can be spread on the ground to repel hogs and minimize
property damage in areas that cannot be fenced. If you
have a problem with feral hogs near your property, you will
want to contact a wildlife trapper for immediate removal.
NPDES tip: Do not pile garbage, trash, leaves, limbs
or garden debris in swales – this adds pollutants which can
wash into downstream waters. Do not park vehicles in the
swale – this compacts the soil so less runoff soaks in.

Monday, Jan. 15

Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing
Palm Beach County and is a privately
owned and managed company.
Captain’s is committed to providing
dependable, reliable and professional
ground transportation to and from all
South Florida Airports and Seaports. PBCVH212
To reserve your vehicle:
561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com