Going Hog Wild

Going Hog Wild

Olivia Rosato, Reporter

Invasive species are an inherent consequence of the ever-globalizing world, but now more than 6 million feral hogs are running rampant in North America, including in at least 35 US states. In addition to destroying crops and eating endangered species, they are likely to spread many diseases to humans.  

The pigs are a combination of Eurasian boars and domestic American pigs. According to National Geographic, the Eurasian boar was originally introduced into Canada in the late 20th century as the meat market rose in popularity. The boars were able to escape from their pens and some were released into the wild as the market lost its profitability, leading them  to breed with each other and other domestic pigs.

Scientists did not expect that the pigs would be as prevalent as they are. The pigs’ rapid population growth is generally attributed to their prolific breeding and unprecedented ability to survive in a variety of climates. The female pigs are able to reproduce from about eight months old, and can have as many as two litters of four to twelve piglets in twelve months. This has facilitated the population growth to more than 6 million in North America. The pigs also have an ability to adapt to a variety of climates, including the cold of Canada—even building what scientists call “pigloos” to live in—and the heat of Caribbean Islands.      

But how do these pigs affect people?

The pigs are known for rampaging on farms and destroying crops, whether by trampling them or consuming them. Farmers are ill-equipped to deal with the animals, who are as good at getting into fences as they are at getting out of them. The pigs can also harm humans that try to stop them, armed with tusks and weighing about 500 pounds each. The hogs are also threatening endangered populations of small animals, as they prey upon almost everything that they can eat.

According to National Geographic, however, this is not the greatest threat the hogs pose. Pigs are notorious for carrying diseases, especially ones that are threatening to humans. Pathogens and viruses are easily transmissible from pigs to humans, including E.coli and salmonella, among other things. Pigs are also very susceptible to influenza, and scientists are concerned that because of the widespread reach of the pigs, they may introduce a new form of the flu to humans not dissimilar from the H1N1 swine flu pandemic of 2009. 

If the pigs prove to spread an uncontrollable amount of disease, they might be killed in large numbers, having knock-on effects for the US pig market and losing unprecedented amounts of money. The same diseases pose major concerns to human health, especially if left untreated beyond the early stages, including long-term health issues and death.  

If the pigs continue to run rampant in North America, it could pose a serious threat to the economy and, most importantly, to the health of Americans.