Why are feral pigs culled?

1. Agricultural Damage

Feral pigs cause extensive damage to farms by rooting up crops, trampling fields, and destroying irrigation systems. Their behavior leads to significant economic losses for farmers. In the U.S. alone, the total estimated damage caused by feral pigs is around $2.5 billion annually, including crop loss, livestock threats, and control costs.

2. Environmental Impact

Their rooting and wallowing behaviors disturb soil, increase erosion, and destroy native vegetation. Feral pigs also prey on small animals like ground-nesting birds and reptiles. They contribute to the spread of invasive plant species, reducing biodiversity and disrupting delicate ecosystems such as wetlands and forests.

3. Disease Transmission

Feral pigs carry diseases such as swine brucellosis, pseudorabies, and leptospirosis. These can infect livestock, wildlife, and even humans in some cases. The spread of these diseases poses a serious threat to agriculture and public health, making disease control another key reason for culling.

4. Rapid Reproduction

A single female can produce two or more litters per year, with up to 12 piglets in each. With few natural predators and high survival rates, populations can explode quickly. Without active management, their numbers can grow out of control, making prevention efforts much harder.

Read more here: The Clock Is Ticking on America’s ‘Feral Swine Bomb’