Feral hogs (or wild pigs) are a significant invasive species problem in Texas noted for their high reproduction rates and massive damage to agriculture and the environment.
Population in Texas
Texas is home to the largest feral hog population in the United States, containing nearly half of the estimated U.S. total.
Estimated Numbers: The population in Texas is estimated to be between 1.5 million and 2.6 million feral hogs. Some sources suggest the total could be over 3 million.
Distribution: They are found in all but one of Texas's 254 counties.
Population Dynamics: The population continues to grow rapidly due to a lack of natural predators and their high reproductive rate. To stabilize the population, an annual harvest rate of approximately 66% is required, but only about one-third are estimated to be killed each year.
Reproduction Rate
Feral hogs have the highest reproductive rate of any large ungulate, allowing their population to boom quickly.
Sexual Maturity: Females (sows) can become sexually mature as early as six to eight months of age, especially with a high-quality diet.
Litters per Year: Sows typically average 1 to 1.5 litters per year, but can physiologically have up to three litters in a 14-month period in ideal conditions.
Litter Size: The average litter size is 4 to 6 piglets, but can range up to 12.
Gestation Period: The gestation period is short, approximately 114–115 days (three months, three weeks, and three days).
This rapid breeding cycle means that in ideal conditions, a feral hog population has the potential to double in size within just four months.
Damage Caused
Feral hogs are classified as an invasive species and "ecosystem engineers" due to their destructive impact on landscapes. The total cost of damage and control efforts in Texas is estimated to be around $871 million annually, according to a recent study. Other estimates for agricultural damage alone range from $500 million to over $1 billion per year in Texas.
Agricultural and Economic Impacts
Crop Destruction: Hogs destroy crops through consumption, rooting (digging for roots/insects), and trampling. Damage to corn, peanuts, and sorghum fields is particularly severe.
Infrastructure Damage: They damage fences, irrigation systems, water infrastructure, and farm equipment, leading to costly repairs and lost labor hours.
Livestock Issues: They prey on young livestock like goats, sheep, and sometimes calves.
Control Costs: Landowners and producers spend millions annually on control efforts such as trapping, fencing, and aerial control.
Environmental Impacts
Habitat Degradation: Feral hogs alter native habitats, including riparian corridors and wetlands, by rooting and wallowing.
Water Contamination: Their presence near water sources increases sediment, turbidity, and bacterial concentrations (like E. coli), negatively affecting water quality and aquatic life.
Competition with Native Wildlife: They compete with native species (such as white-tailed deer and wild turkeys) for food sources like acorns and also prey on ground-nesting birds' eggs.
Soil Erosion: Rooting behavior destabilizes soil, leading to increased erosion and facilitating the invasion of non-native plant species
