Feral Hogs Virginia Map
But in many parts of the country including virginia feral hogs have posed a huge threat to natural habitats and endangered plants and animals according to dgif.
Feral hogs virginia map. Feral hogs feral pigs wild pigs wild boar etc in virginia are defined as any swine that are wild or for which no proof of ownership can be made see 4vac15 20 160. If nobody enjoyed hunting them we wouldn t have the growing problem we have today. Feral swine make up one of the two populations of wild pigs that exist within the state. Feral hogs are four legged ecological disasters earlier this week the 30 50 feral hogs meme swarmed the internet an unexpected by product of the nationwide gun debate.
Feral swine are found in small populations scattered around west virginia. Color coat and origin are not important. Commonly known as feral hogs or feral pigs feral swine sus scrofa are not native to west virginia. The frequently asked questions page on the virginia department of game and inland fisheries website says it best.
Notice how hogs have completely filled in almost all deep south states in that time and they ve made much progress in their steady march northward. They re roaming at least 20 virginia counties including dickenson giles lee russell scott wise and wythe. Any loose hog in the wild is bad news to wildlife and habitat resources. Notice also the outlier populations like those in michigan virginia pennsylvania and other states.
Feral hog hunting is what is feeding the growing feral hog problem even if hunters have good intentions and desire to help control populations in the name of conservation. Feral pigs are farm escapees living in the wild. Virginia is on the front lines of the northward spread of. It is a supply and demand system.
The other population is wild boar. Interest in hog hunting creates more hogs. A loose group of domestic hogs can quickly take on feral characteristics and transition to a thriving wild population in only a few generations. Wild boar occur in the four county area of.
Moving feral hogs and releasing them to the wild in virginia is illegal according to the code of virginia and regulations 4vac15 30 20 and 4vac15 30 40. Feral swine are an exotic invasive species that are the wild descendants of domestic swine introduced by european explorers in the 16th century.