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HOG FACTS & COOKING TIPS
Feral hogs carry diseases that infect humans, domestic animals and wildlife. They destroy property and habitat and threaten the biosecurity and production of commercial pork producers.
WHAT ARE FERAL
HOGS?
Feral hogs are not native to Texas; they are either domestic pigs,
Eurasian wild boars, descendants of European and Asian hogs, or
hybrids of these species that have escaped or been released. Feral
hogs should not be confused with the javelina, or collared peccary,
which is native to the southwestern and southern U.S. and northern
Mexico. Feral hog appearances vary greatly. They may weigh more than
400 pounds and are very prolific; they can produce litters of 8 to
12 young and can have two litters per year.
WHY SHOULD I
BE CONCERNED?
Feral hogs are extremely destructive to crops, habitat and the
environment. They are a danger to wildlife and domestic animals and
a threat to the pork industry. Feral hogs are carriers of diseases
and parasites that can infect humans, and their populations in Texas
are growing.
HOW DO THEY
AFFECT WILDLIFE?
Feral hogs are a threat to wildlife in many ways. They can
harbor a large number of infectious diseases, many of which can be
fatal to wildlife. By rooting and wallowing, feral hogs destroy
habitat that wildlife depend on. Destruction includes erosion along
waterways and wetlands and the loss of native plants. Additionally,
feral hogs compete for food with deer, bears, turkeys, squirrels and
many other birds and mammals. They are predators of small mammals
and deer fawns as well as ground-nesting birds such as turkeys,
ovenbirds and grouse including their nests and young.
WHERE ARE THEY
IN TX?
Breeding populations are believed to currently exist in
East and South Texas. Damage caused by feral hogs to wildlife,
habitat and property has been reported in the southwest,
southcentral and northeast regions of the state.
ARE THERE
HUMAN HEALTH ISSUES?
While no feral hogs in Texas have tested positive for any infectious
diseases as yet, feral hogs are known to carry 18 viral diseases, 10
of which can infect people; and 10 bacterial diseases, all of which
cause disease in humans. Feral hogs are reservoirs for numerous
parasites that can affect people, pets, livestock or wildlife.
People usually contract these ailments through contact with affected blood, tissues or aerosol droplets, or by consuming undercooked meat from infected animals. It is also possible for these diseases to be contracted through exposure to other animals that, originally, had been infected by feral hogs. Disease symptoms range widely, from flu-like ailments to fever, weight loss, organ failure and death.
It should be noted that while the highly pathogenic avian influenza has not been found in North America, in the event that it were, feral hogs could play a significant role in the evolution and transmission of influenza viruses, allowing the virus to become capable of producing a pandemic.
FARMER
CONCERNS
Feral hogs are known to disrupt livestock and damage fences and
feeders. These animals will consume animal feed, minerals and
supplements; cause large amounts of crop damage; and readily prey on
small livestock such as lambs, kid goats and newborn calves.
Feral hogs are known to carry several infectious diseases. Swine brucellosis, pseudorabies and trichinosis can infect domestic pigs and other farm animals. Pseudorabies is fatal to cattle. To help protect domestic animals from these diseases, farmers should not introduce feral hogs into domestic herds and should not butcher feral hogs on the farm or feed the remains of feral hogs to their domestic animals.
HUNTER
CONCERNS
Eradication of feral hogs in Texas is the goal of some people.
People are strongly encouraged to kill feral hogs, provided it is
safe to do so. There is no season or limit to when or how many hogs
can be taken. People hunting hogs, however, are strongly encouraged
to comply with regulations in effect for any game in season.
Individuals may not carry loaded firearms in their vehicles and must
have permission from landowners to kill feral hogs on their
property. Feral hogs are very adaptable; a small amount of pressure
will cause them to vacate one area and move onto another.
While no feral hogs in Texas have tested positive for any infectious diseases as yet, they are known to carry brucellosis, pseudorabies and trichinosis. Therefore, each animal should be treated as if it were infected. Exposure to diseases carried by feral hogs can occur when an animal is processed; humans can contract diseases such as brucellosis from handling the tissues of infected animals. Consequently, the following precautions should be taken when field-dressing and handling feral hogs:
1) Wear
disposable rubber or latex gloves when field dressing and butchering
2) Avoid direct contact with blood and reproductive organs
3) Keep pets away from hog carcasses; pets can be fatally
infected through exposure to infected blood or tissue
4) Immediately wash hands with soap and hot water after field
dressing or butchering
5) Wash tools with soap and hot water after field dressing or
butchering and soak them for a half-hour in a solution of bleach
water (3/4 cup bleach per gallon of water)
6) Properly dispose of gloves and burn or bury any animal
remains
7) As with all pork products, cook feral hog meat thoroughly
– to a temperature of 170 degrees F – before eating
LANDOWNER
CONCERNS
Feral hogs are an invasive species that can cause extensive damage
to habitat, wildlife feeders, gardens, fences, crops, wetlands and
waterways. These animals are known predators of birds and small
mammals, and carry numerous serious infectious diseases that can be
transmitted to humans and domestic pets.
WHAT’S CAN BE DONE?
A Hog Me Off Hog Task Force has been established to locate feral hog populations and help address the concerns caused by their presence. The task force consists of the Hog Me Off Staff lead by "Hog" The Pig Hunter!
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