Two state parks in Missouri are temporarily closed this month, according to KSDK.
At the time, conservationists were working hard not to save wildlife but to eliminate as much of an incredibly destructive species as possible.
What happened?
Social media users may remember a brief but ubiquitous meme from 2019: “30-50 wild boars.”
The phrase started trending after singer Jason Isbell questioned the need for assault weapons, with one Twitter user asserting that feral hogs were a cause, saying: “This is a legitimate question for rural America – how do I kill 30-50 feral hogs that run into my yard in 3-5 minutes while my kids play?”
While the meme pleased users who thought the statement was bizarre, recent efforts to eradicate feral hogs in Missouri have proven just how serious of a threat they pose.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) teamed up with the Missouri Feral Swine Elimination Partnership to conduct a comprehensive aerial mission to target and eliminate feral hogs at Johnson Shut-Ins and Taum Sauk Mountain State Parks, KSDK reported.
“Aerial wildlife management activities have historically occurred less frequently in the East, but are expected to become more frequent due to increased damage caused by feral swine,” APHIS revealed in an updated advisory on Nov. 17.
Why are feral pigs so concerning?
As the USDA’s “Wild Boar Bomb” page explains, pigs are not native to North America, and neither are wild boar.
Demand for sport hunting drove the import of wild boars from Russia and Eurasia in the late 1800s, and although the animals were initially kept in fenced areas, many escaped and “interbred with existing wild boars.”
Although the USDA notes that feral pigs are technically the same species as domestic pigs, there is no doubt that feral pigs are an invasive species.
Non-native species are not inherently invasive; tomatoes, bell peppers and cattle have all been introduced to North America without incident, according to the National Park Service.
Invasive species are distinctly different from plants or wildlife that have blended harmlessly into a new habitat.
Whether plants or animals, they share several unique characteristics: they reproduce quickly, lack natural enemies to control their populations, and outcompete their native counterparts in vital resources such as food, water, sunlight, and habitat.
Invasive species are costly and destructive, and feral pigs are arguably the worst culprits in this regard. They have been repeatedly described as “America’s most destructive and dangerous invasive species.”
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, feral hogs alone cause $2.5 billion in agricultural damage each year, primarily because they force their way into roots, kill “desirable pasture species,” level crops and pollute waterways.
In addition to wreaking havoc on land, feral hogs can reduce water quality, leading to damaging consequences such as harmful algae blooms.
APHIS warns that feral pigs are prolific vectors of disease for pets, livestock and humans, and they can easily attack humans.
What measures are being taken?
As KSDK points out, ongoing elimination efforts appear to have gradually reduced the numbers.
Eating invasive species is an increasingly popular method, but APHIS warns hunters to cook wild boar meat to a safe temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
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