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Pigs in the Ecosystem

When pigs come to mind, you liking are thinking about the barnyard animals. But wild pigs, also known as feral pigs, can pose a threat to ecosystems. Feral pigs are found in diverse habitats on several continents, although they are native to Europe and Asia. As a non-native species in the U.S., feral pigs have many states concerned about their impact on plants and animals. In Wisconsin, for example, where feral pigs are known to attack domestic animals, the state has eased restrictions on hunting them.

Damage to Plants and Soil
- Feral pigs root and forage to find food, which eliminates ground cover and contributes to erosion. The composition of the soil is affected by feral pigs, whose waste changes the level of calcium phosphate and nitrogen. Changes in soil composition affect species in an ecosystem by eliminating food sources and degrading habitats.
Threats to Animals
- Feral pigs destroy plants that other animals rely on as a source of food. Feral pigs also degrade bird habitats by damaging plants that grow beneath trees. They also threaten shore birds by making bird eggs a part of their omnivorous diet. Farmers are concerned about the pigs' potential to carry diseases that can affect livestock.
Water Sources and Disease
- Feral pigs pose a risk to the aquatic portions of ecosystems because they often forage in areas near streams and rivers. Streams become contaminated with fecal material as runoff enters the ecosystem. Although humans are susceptible to illnesses from contaminated waters, the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida argues that wild pigs do not carry diseases that can be easily transmitted to humans.
Feral Pigs in the U.S.
- States such as Florida, Hawaii and Wisconsin have felt the effects of wild pigs on their ecosystems. In Hawaii, feral pigs were introduced by Polynesian settlers as an important food source. Although the main islands are now free of feral pigs, they still inhabit some of the smaller islands. The Environmental Protection Agency monitors and regulates the waters of Hawaii to ensure that tourists and surfers are not exposed to contamination from pig waste. Florida and Wisconsin have resorted to organized hunting of wild pigs to combat threats to the natural ecosystem. However, in Florida wild pigs are also an an important part of the ecosystem because they are a major food source for the endangered Florida panther.

Animals & Science