Damage by Pigs >> Damage to the Environment

Threats to Native Wildlife

Competition

Wild pigs compete for food and space with native wildlife species, especially game animals such as deer and turkey. In the southeastern U.S., competition for food between wild pigs and native game species is highest during late summer and fall when muscadines, persimmons, and acorns become available.

Feral Hogs

Wild pigs foraging for acorns.

Predation

Wild pigs can be significant predators of eggs and newly hatched young of ground-nesting birds and sea turtles, small mammals, salamanders, frogs, crabs, mussels, and snakes.  Though not considered a significant predator of white-tailed deer fawns, wild pigs do sometimes kill and eat newborns.

Native Plant Communities

Wild pigs rooting, wallowing, and trampling damage native plant communities that provide habitat and food sources for native wildlife species. 

deer and hogs in soybean field