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Wild Boar - One Of America's Largest Varmints |
Wild Boar - One Of America’s Largest VarmintsBy Michael D. Faw
©Copyright 2009, The Varmint Hunters Association, Inc.
This beast has invaded America, and by some estimates it soon will replace deer as the most populous — and biggest problem — wildlife species in North America. The beast in question also is causing severe ecological damage in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other fragile areas of our nation. And this huge varmint has polluted water sources, stolen vegetables and crops, and destroyed many gardens and fields. It also has driven hungry cattle out of feed troughs. It’s one tough character that should rally varmint hunters everywhere to take up arms. Just what is this large varmint?
The author killed this wild boar in a California vineyard. Wild boars are actually driving up the price of a glass of wine with their destructive behavior.
The Wild Boar, Or Feral Hog
While the wild boar is not a new varmint in North America, the problem has swollen to become what some call “the next wildlife war.” And no one is taking sides for the boars, and no one is carrying “Pro-Pork” banners in protest. And there are good reasons. Feral pigs or wild boars are problems — very serious problems.
Wild boars were declared a public health nuisance in Hawaii where very early island explorers and visitors dropped off farm (feral) pigs to become possible future food supplies. The farm pigs ran wild (as they are prone to do) and soon reverted to their ancestral ways. Today, the islands are overrun with problem pigs. Christopher Columbus and other early explorers are credited with introducing wild boars into North America. And as wild boar populations in the main United States have also grown (with first introductions in North Carolina and then California), so have their attacks on farm crops, livestock, and other favored treasures. The pig problem has become so pronounced that nearly every state game department met during the spring of 2008 in a national wild boar summit. The departments were attempting to determine what needs to be done to address this problem. This was the second such summit, and game departments are taking notes and making plans. Estimated annual property damage by wild boars is placed in the millions of dollars across the United States.
And the current thoughts in some state wildlife agencies are to be prepared for the worst — or much worse. All states fall into two categories: Those states that have wild boars now, and the remaining states that are going to receive them as this pest spreads. Wild boars now freely roam in nearly 40 of the 50 states. A pig population in an area with adequate food can double in four months, and wild boars can breed at six months of age. We stand a chance of being rooted off our planet.
The solution to the pork problem is simple. More hunters need to head afield and into the forests to pursue these varmints, and game departments need to ease the restrictions to permit a “no holds barred” approach to reducing or eliminating the single animal species that will make global warming seem like a welcome warm spell. Hogs are big problems that need immediate attention. Go get ’em.
And while most hunters think of Texas and Florida for wild boar hunting, there also are numerous pigs and numerous opportunities in states like California, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and North Carolina. Wild boars have recently appeared in Iowa and Wisconsin. Iowa, where wild boars are very unwelcome and seen as a disease threat to the state’s profitable pork industry, issued a shoot-on-sight order. Wisconsin also has told hunters to kill them when they see them. And in most cases a hunt begins with an inexpensive over-the-counter license purchase. In some states the season is open every day of the calendar year.
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