Impacts: Wild hogs, or wild boars, were introduced 400 years ago
for hunters. Today the species has spread to 23 states and its
total population numbers more than two million. Florida has the
second largest population of approximately This species is
extremely damaging to the agricultural industry costing the
industry over $800 million per year. Wild boars damage crops and
transmit diseases to livestock. Diseases also can be transmitted
to humans. Natural ecosystems are destroyed by wild boars. Hogs
dig up the ground while searching for food in a process called
rooting. This behavior destroys ground vegetation, reduces
habitat for nesting birds and other animals, causes soil
erosion, and can occur on very large patches of land. Photo
courtesy of Texas A & M, Wildlife and Fisheries