Feral Swine are devastating to Georgia’s watersheds, landscapes, farms, wildlife and communities.
Feral swine have the highest reproductive rate any mammal their size on the planet.
They persistently root and dig for food, move in large family groups (sounders), and migrate in traveled trails and wallowing patterns, have a generalist diet and habitat, few natural predators, and low infant mortality. In addition, illegal translocation of feral swine may occur by hunters or private hunting guides for recreational purposes.
Feral swine destroy native ecosystems.
Their rooting and wallowing damages wildlife habitat, trees and tree seedlings, stream banks and forest floors. Their generalist diet increases competition with native wildlife for food sources. In addition, water quality is threatened through sedimentation, disturbed riparian areas, and e coli due to feral swine. Feral Swine impact threatened and endangered terrestrial and aquatic species populations.
Feral swine decimate Georgia farms.
Feral swine behavior can cause crop loss, damage to trees in planted orchards and managed forests, and compromise farm infrastructure such as irrigation, roads, feeders and fencing. Feral Swine pose the risk of disease to livestock producers. Hunting plantations suffer loss of wildlife and recreational value.
Collaboration is making control a reality.
Feral swine are gaining increased attention from wildlife biologists, managers, and researchers in the country. While eradication is likely impossible in Georgia, today’s management philosophy include reduction of existing population and prevention of spread of the feral swine population to new areas.