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Feral Hog: An Invasive Species in Indiana

            Feral hogs (Sus scrofa), which are also referred to as wild boars, wild hogs, wild pigs, and many other names, are considered are an invasive species in the State of Indiana (Caudell, Dowell, & Welch, 2016; Indiana Wildlife Federation, 2020). Wild hogs may have been formerly domesticated and later allowed to become feral or they may have been released illegally into the wild environment (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 2020).  They are considered as a Eurasian wild pig that escaped domestic pigs and have adapted to the wild. They are also considered as a hybridized swine. Feral hogs have been reported in 39 states. In 1980s, they were only found in 17 states, but have expanded their territory in the recent times. They are documented to be present in Indiana’s three southern counties (Indiana Wildlife Federation, 2020).

            Feral hogs are considered an invasive species due to the following reasons: first, they cause extensive damage to agriculture and the environment. Invasive species can cause approximately $1.5 billion in damages to natural resources and agriculture every year in the United States. Second, feral hogs cause extensive disturbances to landscaping, agriculture, local habitats, livestock, and to native species. Their presence is characterized by trampling, rooting, and wallowing. These behaviors can destroy plants, crops and fungi populations that can in turn negatively impact wildlife access to resources. Particularly, they damage wetlands and other habitats. On the other hand, wallowing can cause soil erosion and lead to muddied waters, which may reduce quality of the water (Indiana Wildlife Federation, 2020). In addition, feral hogs can damage crops such as melons, wheat, pastures, and corn. They can also impact the native wildlife by out-competing other animals for resources such as hard mast or by eating eggs of ground nesting birds. Moreover, rooting and tusking by feral hogs can lead to damage of dikes hence impacting forest restoration (Indiana Woodland Steward, 2019). Besides, they carry a number of diseases such as swine brucellosis and pseudorabies, which can be transferred to livestock or other domestic animals (Indiana Wildlife Federation, 2020). Other disease threats from feral hogs include tularemia, trichinosis, and wine fever (Indiana Woodland Steward, 2019).

            Specific laws, policies, and practices have been put in place in Indiana for controlling feral hogs. A tenant, landowner, or other individuals with a written permission of the landowner can trap or shoot a wild hog on the landowner’s private property without a permit. If trapped, the feral hog must be euthanized immediately at the trap site or after moving it from the trap site or be killed immediately at the trap site. However, they should not be released to the wild, be taken for other purposes, or offered for compensations. Only persons who have nuisance wild animal control permits given by the Division of Fish and Wildlife can claim a service fee for trapping, shooting, or removing a wild hog from a private property. In addition, strict rules and regulations prohibit importation of wild hogs into Indiana, trading, barter-trading, leasing, possessing feral hogs in captivity, or presenting them as gifts (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 2020).  Importation or release of wild hogs in Indiana is considered as a Class D felony (Caudell, Dowell, & Welch, 2016). The most appropriate way of controlling wild hogs and their impacts is trapping them and placing them in appropriate fenced land reserves. Land should be set for these invasive species rather than be killed and hunted like the case at the moment. Hunting of wild hogs need to be banned since there are some concerns of illegal importation, release, establishment and introduction of wild  boar populations for hunting purposes (Caudell, Dowell, & Welch, 2016).