Damage by Pigs >> Damage to the Environment

Damage to the Environment

Soil

Rooting, wallowing, and trampling activities compact soils, which in turn disrupts water infiltration and nutrient cycling. Also, these soil disturbances contribute to the spread of invasive plant species, which typically favor disturbed areas and colonize them more quickly than many native plants.

Soil Damage Caused by Rooting Pigs

Soil Damage Caused by Rooting Pigs

Water Quality

Wild pig activity in streams reduces water quality by increasing turbidity (excessive silt and particle suspension) and bacterial contamination.  In time, turbidity and added contaminants affect a variety of native aquatic life, most notably fish, freshwater mussels, amphibians, and insect larvae.

In some streams, feces from wild pigs have increased fecal coliform concentrations to levels exceeding human health standards.