Feral hogs are one of the fastest-spreading invasive mammals in the United States. Populations are reported in at least 35 states and continuing to push into new territory. They’ve expanded from a few Southern states decades ago to a near-national presence, thanks to high reproductive rates, adaptable habitat use and human-assisted movements. Their numbers are estimated in the millions nationwide, and they’re causing serious ecological and economic damage while steadily moving into places where they were once rare or absent.
Wild hog facts
Wild hogs and feral pigs reproduce rapidly and adapt to diverse landscapes. Every type of range, woodland and grassland supports — and can be invaded by — wild hogs. Once a reproducing team (or passel) of wild pigs is attracted to a tract of land, their numbers will increase rapidly with a coinciding level of increased damage.
Landscape damage caused by wild hogs is brutal! Wild pigs are opportunistic omnivores that use their snouts to root for a diverse diet of plants (roots, mast, crops, grasses) and animals (insects, worms, eggs, small vertebrates, carrion), consuming up to 5 percent of their body weight daily.
The diet of wild hogs shifts seasonally based on available food. Their need for high-protein sources, like acorns and agricultural crops, leads them everywhere and anywhere, including manicured landscapes. They feed heavily at dawn and dusk, using their excellent sense of smell to “root” food both above and below ground. Afterward, a surface where wild hogs have fed looks as though it has been clumsily and deeply furrowed.
- Wild hogs cause significant property damage.
- Wild hogs root and wallow through soil, causing soil erosion.
- Wild hogs contaminate water resources with their feces.
- Wild hogs are a threat to human safety.
Wild hog facts
Enviro Protection Industries Co. (EPIC) presents Wild Hog Scram, an animal repellent designed to effectively prevent and train wild hogs and feral pigs from entering landscapes, yards, campuses, golf courses and more. The natural granular formula is a long-lasting repellent that scares feral swine to death. Wild Hog Scram is designed to be risk-free for humans, pets and the environment, while keeping wild hogs from entering treated areas and trains them to stay away. One 10-pound bag protects up to 12,100 square feet.
<p>The post EPIC: Professional Wild Hog Scram first appeared on Pest Management Professional.</p>
from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/epic-professional-wild-hog-scram/
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