2. Wild Hogs in Florida Photo by M.L. Smith

3. What are they? Feral hogs Eurasian wild boar Feral hog x Eurasian wild boar hybrid Sus scrofa Photo by L. Hlasek Photo by W. Frankenberger

4. What are they? Wild hogs (Sus scrofa) –Family: Suidae (true pigs) –Exotic Same as your typical barnyard pig! USDA Photo

5. What they are not Collared peccary or Javelina (Tayassu tajacu) –Family: Tayassuidae (pig-like mammals) –Native to Southwest U.S. None in Florida USFWS Photo

6. How did they get to Florida? Explorers –Hernando de Soto (1539) Ponce de Leon (1521)? ? Charlotte Harbor Illustrations by Floridahistory.com

7. Hogs spread throughout Florida Explorers & Settlers Native Americans Charlotte Harbor Illustration by Floridahistory.com

8. Hogs spread throughout the Florida Free-ranging hogs Photo by Suwannee River Ranch Photo by Bowguns.com Releases for hunting

9. What about those Eurasian Boar? New Hampshire (1886) New York (1900) North Carolina/Tennessee (1912) Texas (1919) Washington State (1981) Others? Photo by rw.ttu.edu

10. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Control nuisance animals Improve hunting –This practice was discontinued Photos by Texasboars.com

11. So what kind of wild hogs are in Florida? Feral hogs Hybrids Photo by J. Allen

12. How many hogs are there? 500,000+ in Florida 1-2,000,000 in the Southeast Several million in 35 states and provinces Photo by Buckandboar.com

13. Where do hogs live in Florida? Statewide Highest numbers

14. What do they look like? Hoofed Stocky with short legs Long snout ending in a disk Tusks Photo by W. Frankenberger

15. What do they look like? Color varies Difficult to tell feral hogs from Eurasian boar Photo by J. Allen

16. What do they look like? Size and weight depend –Sex, age, genetics & environmental conditions –Males (boars) are bigger than females (sows) Photo by T. Croker Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

17. What do they look like? Tusks Photo by J. Dunlap and M. Ludlow Photo by L. Rue Hog shield

18. Hog senses Good sense of smell and hearing Poor vision Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

19. What sounds do they make? Alarm grunts “pig sounds” Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

20. How else do they communicate? Scent-posts Tusking USDA Photo Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

21. How do you know they are there? Tracks

22. How do you know they are there? Wallows Photo by Texasboars.com

23. How do you know they are there? Rooting Photo by W. Frankenberger

24. How do you know they are there? Rubbing USDA Photo Photo by Texasboars.com

25. How do you know they are there? Scat Photos by Texasboars.com

26. Where do hogs live in Florida? Prefer –Large forested tracts –Dense understory vegetation –Lots of food –Water –Few people Photo by W. Boyer

27. Wild hog habitats Photo by USGS Photo by flsaf.org Photo by USGS

28. Where do hogs live in Florida? Fewer animals with: –Intense agriculture –Urbanization –Little water Photo by Florida Photographic Collection Photo by csres.uteexs.edu

29. Habitat needs: Water Keep cool Control parasites Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

30. Habitat needs: Cover Shade Predators Hunters Photo by W. Boyer

31. Habitat needs: Food Hard & soft mast Other plants and animals Carrion Photo by P. Wray Photo by NOAA Photo by P. Wray

32. Breeding Start breeding at 1 yr of age –Courtship –Fights –Copulation Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

33. Breeding Breeding peaks in spring & fall –Farrow 2 litters of 1-13 piglets each Photo by R.P. Lawrence Photo by Suwannee River Ranch –Nest in shaded upland site –Nurse for 3 weeks

34. Breeding Nutrition important Photo by T.C. Crocker Boars solitary Females in sounders Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

35. Surviving as a wild hog Full grown in 3-5 years Average life span: 4-5 years Photo by USFWS Photo by Texasboars.com Predators Accidents Disease Starvation Hunting

36. How much space do wild hogs need? 450-740 acres –Depends on food Photo by D. Hosking

37. When are wild hogs most active? Depends on –Breeding condition –Temperature –Hunting Photo by Inheatscents.net Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

38. Problems associated with wild hogs Competition with native wildlife Photo by K.M. Gale Predation Photo by J. Valbuena Photo by NOAA

39. Problems associated with wild hogs Feeding on crops, seeds & seedlings Rubbing & tusking Photo by W.D. Boyer USDA Photo Photo by Texasboars.com

40. Problems associated with wild hogs Rooting Wallowing Photo by W. Frankenberger USDA Photo

41. Problems associated with wild hogs Disease Photo by R. Stewart

42. Problems associated with wild hogs Dangerous Photo by W. Frankenberger Photo by J. Dunlap & M. Ludlow

43. Who owns wild hogs? Landowners –Private land –Public land USDA Photo

44. Management of wild hog populations Move them around Removal & control Photo by J. Allen

45. Can they be controlled? Control: maybe Eradication: unlikely Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

46. Control measures: Hunting Photo by Texasboars.com

47. Control measures: Trapping Photo by S. Barlow Photo by M.S. Smith

48. Control measures: Trapping Photo by S. Barlow

49. Control measures: Shooting Photo by Inheatscents.net

50. Control measures: Exclusion Photo by S. Roberts

51. Wild hogs! The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Photo by Suwannee River Ranch

52. This program was developed by: William M. Giuliano Wildlife Extension Specialist Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation IFAS, University of Florida For additional information on Wild Hogs in Florida see: Ecology of Wild Hogs in Florida by W.M. Giuliano & G.W. Tanner at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW220 Control and Management of Wild Hogs in Florida by W.M. Giuliano & G.W. Tanner at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW221