Hogs were first introduced to the United States in 1493 on Christopher Columbus's second voyage to the new world. They were brought with other livestock to be used for food, but they soon escaped captivity. These animals were reported to be very aggressive and attacked Spanish soldiers. Their numbers now exceed 2 million in the U.S. The effect of the introduced species would later have a detrimental effect on the many different ecosystems they encountered. Since hogs are omnivores, they can have a variety of effects on many different animals from amphibians to mammals. Pigs eat a variety of items, including fruits, roots, mushrooms, and invertebrates, depending on the season. The major foods in spring are herbage, roots, invertebrates, and vertebrates. Fruit, invertebrates, and herbage are most common in fall and winter diets. Herbage eaten by feral pigs …show more content…
For example, female hogs are capable of breeding at only six months of age but most of the time eight to ten months, when there is good nutrition. Along with that, the average litter size is four to six, but under good conditions may have up to ten or twelve offspring. They typically have one to sometimes two litters per year. The average feral hog density in Texas ranges from 1.32.5 hogs per square mile from reported studies. The effect on the land and other animals is another major issue with feral hogs. The main damage they cause to livestock and wildlife is indirect destruction of habitat and agriculture needs. Rooting and trampling for food can cause damage to crops, fields, and other animals feeding and watering needs. For humans it affects their wildlife feeders because they are often damaged or destroyed. In addition to habitat destruction, hogs can destroy forestry plantings and damage trees. Roaming hogs routinely damage crops and food sources of people and other animals in the