North America’s Wild Boar Problem
By Jacob Backer
Photo: https://www.sciencemag.org/sites/default/files/styles/article_main_large/public/images/sn-domestication_0.jpg?itok=WPJWV-z_
In the 1900s, hunters who had a controlled population of the pig species Sus scrofa wanted to hunt wild swine for game, and let them roam. They eventually made their way across the U.S. and today there are only two states that do not have wild boar populations. They are considered an invasive species. The pigs prove to be smart- leaving areas they know they have been hunted in, hiding in woods, and nearing areas of human activity only at night.
These boar are destructive to their environment and problematic to the landscape. They turn up the ground in search for earthworms and insects, and will mow down tall grasses, gardens, and crops. Every year in the United States, an estimated $1.5 billion in damages is attributed to wild pigs. They can also carry many diseases, which can be contagious to livestock, pets, and humans. They reproduce very quickly, have many offspring, and eat lots.
Wild pigs don’t have any predators in the U.S., so their population will keep increasing unless humans intervene. Trapping is thought to be the best way of containing the population, and hunting as the easiest, although not the most effective method. Poison and birth control have also been attempted, but have not been successful.
What could be some possible solutions to this problem?
How can technology help solve this problem?
Are there any ethical implications in removing large populations (6+ million) of an invasive species?
Have any friends/family that own a farm or have encountered a wild pig?
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/can-anything-stop-big-pig-invasion
Comments
Post a Comment