Image 1 / 2
Wayne Day of Zachary with his recent boar kill. (PHOTO/Submitted)
Day, an avid hunter, took the feral pig with his Matthews Z7 bow.
Mark Fryoux of Zachary killed a 250 lb. feral "boar" hog at Three Rivers in Corcordia Parish on Saturday, Oct. 13, with a bow at 10 yards.
It's open season on feral hogs, and hunters everywhere are putting them within their sights.
In the eyes of many conservationists, feral swine are among the most damaging invasive species around the world.
Farmers, ranchers, foresters and landowners consider the feral swine to be a nuisance, at best, and, more commonly, a grave threat.
However, feral swine also may be culturally and economically important to hunters and other enthusiasts. Consequently, the invasive feral swine is one of the most controversial animals on the landscape, said Michael D. Kaller and Don Reed in a recent LSU AgCenter article.
Feral hogs closely resemble domestic pigs, though some have longer legs and leaner, more compact bodies. Great color variations exist among feral hogs, including reds, blonds and browns, though a majority of feral hogs are black.
Hair is coarser and tusks (which can grow up to five inches) are more pronounced than on domesticated swine.
Feral swine are a problem across the Southeast and the Western United States. They can have a significant impact on ground-nesting birds, impact various plant species, increase soil erosion and can change entire ecological systems.
Feral swine are able to harbor and transmit diseases and parasites to both livestock and humans.
NWRC researchers, in cooperation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, are collecting geospatial data to model habitat destruction by feral swine.
Feral swine compete directly with many native animals such as deer, squirrels, ducks, turkeys and bears for food and destroy habitat for many other wildlife species.
Feral hogs are extremely prolific, having the potential to rapidly expand their population, says Michael Perot, Wildlife Biologist.
Sows can have up to 10 piglets per litter and reach sexual
maturity at 6 months of age. They have a gestation period of 115 days, allowing two litters per year.
Feral hogs have virtually no natural predators, so piglet
survival is nearly 100 percent.
Control efforts should begin as soon as feral hogs or their sign is observed. Complete eradication may never be achieved, but controlling or reducing the population is crucial, Perot said.
Feral hogs are extremely wary so a diligent effort is necessary. Control methods include snaring, shooting, hunting with dogs and trapping. At this time, there are no accepted toxicants or repellents for feral hogs.
*LSU AgCenter, National Wetlands Research Center and Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries contributed to this article.*
Post a Comment
