Feral Pigs

A collection of 47 posts

Resources

Texas Takes Its First Steps to Protect Its Mountain Lions

While many other states limit hunting of the apex predator, Texas is only now introducing rules to ban canned hunts and require regular checking of traps.

"Invasion Biology"

Hard-To-Eradicate ‘Super Pigs’ in Canada Threaten to Invade the US

Super pigs from Canada will soon be in the U.S.  These animals can’t be eradicated but they can be controlled – if we allow them into the commercial food chain like any other domestic species. If not, there will soon be a northern ‘feral pig problem’. NOTE: this article

"Invasion Biology"

Drought Busters 101 : A 21-Minute Video on Desert Grassland Restoration

“Drought Busters” is an inexpensive, quick, physiologically and economically sustainable method of habitat and wildlife restoration. We call it Drought Busters because it increases effective rainfall by rebuilding soil fertility and the soil’s ability to absorb and store water. This 21-minute video explains Drought Busters, and our experience on

"Invasion Biology"

Wildlife Killing Contests - The Movie

The polite and restrained movie appearing below is not anti-hunting. In fact, it should be mandatory viewing for all hunters and wildlife lovers.   While most of the contests target predators, each shot fired damages the legacy—and future—of ethical hunting. Why? These contests have nothing to do with wildlife

Feral Pigs

Returning Wolves Could Be the Answer to Rome's Feral Hog Problem

According to this article, wolves could solve Italy’s wild pig overpopulation. Another,  better solution would be to return pigs to Italy’s commercial food supply.   NOTE: this article was originally published to Popular Science’s Apple News Channel on June 26th, 2022. It was written by Bob McNally and

"Invasion Biology"

‘A Barbaric Federal Program’: US Killed 1.75m Animals Last Year – or 200 Per Hour

As reported below, the federal “war on wildlife” is alive and well.   NOTE: this article was originally published to The Guardian’s App News Channel on March 25, 2022. It was written by Oliver Milman.   Activists condemn Wildlife Services, a division of the USDA, which says deaths necessary to protect

Bio-Diversity

Huge Feral Hogs Invading Canada, Building ‘Pigloos’ As They Go

Cold weather is kinder to larger animals, because of “thermal efficiency”. This is why the largest bear, whales, deer and even quail are found in the northern extremes of their ranges. Pigs are no exception, as discussed below. And because they are intelligent, they build themselves shelters, and even use

"Invasion Biology"

Pablo Escobar’s Hippos Fill a Hole Left Since Ice Age Extinctions

According to the article below—and the study on which it is based—humans have caused the extinction of many large animals over the past 100,000 years. This has changed ecosystems greatly, generally for the worse.   Introductions of so-called exotics have somewhat compensated for extinction losses. As incongruous as

"Invasion Biology"

How Feral Hogs Hurt The Environment

Quoting from the article below, “But the scientific consensus today is that in North America, feral pigs are a growing threat to both ecosystems and the economy.”   The author continues, “Interestingly, in their native range in Europe and Asia, pigs do not cause as much ecological damage. In fact, some

Acornseekers

Acornseekers Brings Jamón Ibérico to Texas

Free-range Spanish pigs, living on natural forage including acorns, produce pork that is celebrated by gourmets around the world. In Texas, anti-competitive regulations and bureaucratic red tape effectively prevent Texans from marketing free-range “feral” pigs, many of which occupy ranges that are similar to those of Spain. NOTE: this article

"Invasion Biology"

Guadalupe County Begins Feral Hog Bounty Program

Feral pigs would be valuable assets for landowners if we went back to the rules that applied until 30 years ago, which allowed feral pigs to be sold into the commercial food chain. Imagine getting $100 – $300 apiece and creating an additional annual revenue stream for the ranch while helping

Bio-Diversity

Understanding the Effectiveness of Aerial Wildlife Surveys

This article makes very good points about the limitations of aerial surveys of wild animal populations.   An unmentioned limiting factor in aerial survey accuracy is that helicopters are routinely used to kill ‘exotic’ animals and predators – often while counting game. This terrifies wildlife. Years of doing this – as in the

Bio-Diversity

Jamon Iberico in Texas

This company is betting that South Texas’ rangelands and savannahs can produce the world’s finest pork. Their efforts point the way to solving Texas’ so-called ‘feral pig problem’. Big Pork and their regulators created this by declaring that free-ranging South Texas pigs are unsafe to eat, and unfit for

"Invasion Biology"

How Spanish Ibérico Pork Found Its Way to Texas

In the Spanish deserts, pigs which forage for themselves and fatten on seasonal acorns produce hams that can bring $2,000 apiece. In Texas, anticompetitive regulations and bureaucratic red-tape effectively prevent Texans from marketing free-range feral pigs. Before the Civil War, the primary source of income for German settlers in

"Invasion Biology"

A Million Tons of Feces And An Unbearable Stench: Life Near Industrial Pig Farms

The way we raise our grocery store pork is so repulsive that it is unfit for discussion in polite company. Almost everyone averts their eyes from the filth and cruelty of these pig factories, and the damage they do to rural communities, environments, watersheds and public health. Public indifference gives

Bio-Diversity

Bird Deaths a Setback in Texas Feral Hog Poison Testing

It turns out Texas’ latest wonder poison was a Pig in a Poke. Times Record News reports: “Field testing of a new feral hog control method experienced a major setback recently after nearly 200 birds were found dead. Justin Foster, Texas Parks and Wildlife Research Coordinator for Region 2, said

"Invasion Biology"

Book Review of American Serengeti: The Last Big Animals of the Great Plains

American Serengeti is Dan Flores’ natural history of the American Great Plains throughout its 13,000-years of human presence. According to the author, the book is the “Big History” of two lost worlds, both of which were destroyed by humans. The first Lost World was a larger, more diverse collection

Bio-Diversity

Hog-Gone It! There’s a New Pig Poison in Texas

The widespread use of animal poisons for wildlife “management” goes back to at least 1835 with the invention of strychnine. For about 180 years now wolves, coyotes, foxes, badgers, cougar, bear, bobcats, prairie dogs, birds, insects, fish and plants to name a few have been increasingly subjected to these poisons.

"Invasion Biology"

Mountain Lions of Far-West Texas

Much of what we used to ‘know’ about mountain lions turns out to be wrong, starting with the belief they are a threat to livestock or humans. Lions –  and all other predators –  are necessary to the health of wildlife and habitat. Note: This amazing video was produced by Yeti in

"Invasion Biology"

Book Review: ‘Inheritors of the Earth’ by Chris D. Thomas

Here is better way of thinking about so-called invasive species. Ask yourself: How many invasive species have ever been eliminated? How much damage have we done to native plants, animals and our finances trying unsuccessfully to eliminate invasive species? What if, instead of “always trying to defend the losers,” we

Allan Savory

A South African Solution to Texas’ Feral Hog Problem

This story of a start-up hog farm in South Africa points to how Texas can address its wild pig ‘problem’. Hogs can improve soil by by rooting for food, trampling, eating plants, tilling in seeds with their hooves and leaving behind dung and urine. They do best on rangeland, where

"Invasion Biology"

Texas Approves Feral Hog Hunting by Hot Air Balloon

Soon we will have tried every goofy way to control wild pig populations while ignoring the common sense solution: Gather and sell free range pigs into the commercial food chain, like back in the day. NOTE: This post initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on May 25, 2017. Texas lawmakers have

"Invasion Biology"

Reds on Shrimp, Gulls on Reds

On May 21, 2011 we were fly fishing for redfish in the lower Laguna Madre.  Here’s a wonderful photograph of a redfish pod feeding on shrimp, and gulls trailing the redfish to pick up their leavings.   You might wonder why this picture has been entered on a blog dedicated

"Invasion Biology"

Millions of Bees Dead After South Carolina Sprays for Zika Mosquitoes

No pesticide – any chemical used to kill plant or animal ‘pests’ –  is selective. This story should give pause to those who think the ‘feral hog apocalypse’ and routine use of range poison is a good idea. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WashingtonPost.com on September 1, 2016   On Sunday

"Invasion Biology"

New York Today: Prospect Park Goes to the Goats

Even the folks in New York City have figured out that animal impact – in this case ‘exotic’ goats –  can better maintain open space than machinery or chemicals.  This insight puts them ahead of Texas’ mainstream wildlife ‘managers’. NOTE: This post initially appeared on NYTimes.com on May, 2016 To help