2012-2013 Hunting & Trapping Regulations Guide - New York State ...

Feral swine
Bad News for New York
Many people are aware of the feral swine problem
in southern states like Texas and Florida,
but these animals are also a growing problem
in New York. Also called feral pigs, feral hogs,
wild boar, wild hogs, razorbacks, Eurasian boar
and Russian boar, feral swine are not native to
New York and are a harmful and destructive
invasive species.
Feral swine can include domestic pigs or "pet"
pigs that have been released or escaped captivity
and "gone wild," wild boar (native to Eurasia)
that escaped from fenced shooting enclosures,
or a hybrid of domestic pigs and wild boar. Their
color and size can be quite variable. They can
be black, brown, gray, red, tan or cream colored.
They can be belted (a band of color across the
shoulders) or have color patterns like spots or
stripes. Piglets often have stripes that fade or
disappear as they get older.
Feral swine are omnivorous and will eat
just about anything. Feral swine are also very
adaptable and can live just about anywhere as
long as they have access to water. They breed
early and often. If weather is good and food
is plentiful, feral swine can breed as early as
6-10 months of age, can breed twice a year and
their litter size averages 6-8, although litters
as large as 10-12 have been reported. As a
result, a feral swine population could easily
double in a year.
New York is currently reviewing strategies
for preventing the establishment and spread
of feral swine on the landscape. If you see any
feral swine in NY, please report them to the
nearest DEC regional wildlife office or e-mail
us at fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us . Please
report the number of swine seen, whether any
of them were piglets, the date, and the exact
location (county, town, distance and direction
from an intersection, nearest landmark).
Although some people may think of these as
“trophy” animals to hunt, the consequences of
feral swine in New York would be devastating
to deer and turkey, other native wildlife and
the environment. Please help prevent this
from happening!
Feral swine have tremendous
negative impacts on native wildlife
as well as native plants, livestock,
agriculture and humans:
Feral swine:
•Can locally decimate the fall
acorn crop, leaving virtually none
for native wildlife such as bear,
turkey, white-tailed deer, squirrel
and waterfowl.
•Disturb and prey on groundnesting
birds (like turkey and
grouse) and their eggs which may
decrease game bird populations.
•will kill and eat fawns and
young domestic livestock.
•Prey on reptiles and
amphibians (such as snakes,
lizards, frogs and salamanders) and
their eggs which may impact these
populations.
•will eat almost any
agricultural crop as well as tree
seeds and seedlings.
•Tear up lawns and golf
courses to eat the tender roots,
grubs and worms.
•wallow in wet areas where they
destroy native vegetation, cause
erosion, and negatively affect water
quality.
•Have razor sharp tusks and can
be aggressive toward humans, pets
and livestock.
•Can carry and transmit at
least 30 diseases including
swine brucellosis, E. coli,
trichinosis, and pseudorabies
to native wildlife, livestock, pets
and humans. Pseudorabies, if
transmitted to domestic swine, can
decimate NY’s pork industry.
2012–13 HuNtING & traPPING GuIDe 23