Wild hogs cause an endless list of problems in their habitat, both with other animals and the land. Wild hogs can damage timber, agriculture, and pastures. Hogs compete with other native species, such as deer, for food that is essential to many other species. They will feed on birds, mammals (deer, turkey, etc) reptiles and amphibians. They also carry many parasites and diseases such as cholera, pseudrabies, brucellosis, tuberculosis and anthrax. Some of these medical issues can be transferred to other wildlife and humans.
Alabama is not the only state negatively affected by these animals, wild hogs are present in 23 other states. Population growth is another huge problem for affected states. Hogs can begin to reproduce at 6 months old and average 2 litters per year with around 2-7 piglets per litter. Also hogs travel in groups or packs. The population of a group can double every 4 months. The number of hogs per square mile can go from 1 hog per square mile to 100 hogs per square mile in just 3 years. In order to cut down on hog populations Alabama has classified hogs as game animals that can be hunted with a license, year round without limits.
Hopefully, within the next few days my grandfather and I will go hunt some hogs. With any luck I will shoot a hog of my own!
~Alyssa Walker
Information gathered from http://feralhogs.tamu.edu/files/2010/05/FERAL-HOGS-IN-ALABAMA.pdf. For more information you can visit this website.