Wildlife officials fear the ample water and vegetation brought by record-setting rains this year could double the current state estimate of 2 million hogs. The animals reproduce prolifically even under normal conditions, with sows annually having up to two litters of four to eight piglets.
“We are seeing an absolute explosion,” said Kirby Brown, executive vice president of the Texas Wildlife Association. “They are on a roll right now.”
Feral hogs, which can balloon up to 400 pounds or more and have been known to act aggressively toward people when cornered, annually cause an estimated $52 million in damages to crops and property, state officials said.
Rancher Jim McAdams said a dozen or so hogs can mangle five acres of pasture in one visit to his College Station-area property, leaving behind torn-up ground that damages equipment.
“They’re terrible,” he said. “They just are a big nuisance. And despite all our best efforts, the population continues to grow.”
Wild hogs are the most prolific large, wild mammal in North America. They’re descended from domestic hogs and found in nearly all of Texas’ 254 counties and in about 38 other states. Texas has about half of the nation’s population.
When domestic hogs have a plentiful food supply just prior to mating, they ovulate more and produce more eggs. Wildlife researchers believe feral hogs’ reproduction is similar. They anticipate more piglets per litter and more far-ranging herds because food is everywhere.
“The sows are super healthy,” said Cody Weiser, editor of Wild Boar USA magazine. “With the amount of nutrition available all the pigs from this past spring have had plenty to eat. It’s going to make for a very high survival rate.”
Feral hogs reproduce so rapidly that there’s a joke among wildlife officials: When a sow has six piglets, you can expect eight to survive. Sows can have two litters a year, and their female offspring can get pregnant as early as six months. They have no predators.
The hogs root up crop land, pastures and landscapes, and compete for food with wildlife such as white-tailed deer.
Though ranchers and farmers despise them and consider them a nuisance, hunters seek them out. Hunting season is year-round and there is no limit.
“Take all you want and leave the rest,” said Brian Cummins, an extension agent in Van Zandt County in Northeast Texas.
Trapping is the feral hogs in large metal cages is the best way to control them, but that method may be less effective this year.
There will be more juvenile hogs, which can more easily worm their way through the traps. Officials recommend making 4-inch-by-4-inch squares in traps’ metal meshing.
“Control of juveniles is essential if the landowner’s goal is to reduce the hog population,” Texas Cooperative Extension wildlife biologist Billy Higginbotham said.
Also, hogs will probably be turning up their snouts at shelled corn that’s used to lure them into traps because better food will be falling from the trees.
“It looks like were going to have a pretty good acorn crop, and Texas is full of oaks, and the hogs love acorns,” Cummins said.
Texas had the wettest January through July ever recorded, with a statewide average of 27.11 inches - nearly 11 inches above the norm. The wet weather brought growth of vegetation and underbrush and the feral hogs’ piglets will use that for cover from hunters.
Wildlife officials say the animals are primarily herbivores but will eat anything, including the occasional rabbits, quail and small fawns.
“They’re just opportunists,” Brown of the wildlife association said. “They’ll eat whatever they run in to. They can take almost anything and turn it into producing more feral hogs.”
The state has been looking for ways to get rid of the animals for the past five years, Cummins said.
In 2005, lawmakers approved $500,000 in grants to fund the Feral Hog Damage Abatement Program, which included a pilot program to assess crop damage, evaluate control efforts and measure economic impact. The grant also allowed for research to develop pheromone and odor combinations that can be used to attract feral hogs to traps, as well as the study of reproductive control methods.
