news article 2 pigs, hogs, feral swine

       As of October 1, 2011 the wild boar, wild pig, or really any pig like animal in North Carolina is now considered feral swine according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission.    I could write a paper on the bad effects that the very invasive pigs have and continue to do.  The article I found sums up the "in the public eye" problem with wild pigs wreaking havoc on private property in the Tryon area in North Carolina.  Herds of wild pigs are going into homeowners backyards and destroying them by rooting the soils, gardens, and flowerbeds.  The article summarized how citizens who wanted to get rid of the pigs could dispose of them by killing them or trapping them and relocating them.  But as of October 1st, only people with a valid hunters license can hunt them and no one can relocate, or even take a live pig out of a trap, without a identification number issued by a state veterinarian.  The fine for noncompliance is $5000 per pig.  Also there is no longer a closed season for feral swine and hunters can even hunt them at night with spotlights on private land with a permit. 
      The article goes on to say that the change in status is due to pigs spreading across the state at an alarming rate and threatening commercial pig operations due to disease and habitat destruction affecting our native wildlife.  The article gives a history of how pigs, who are not native in America, became to be so abundant.  There is a problem with citizens trapping pigs and transporting them to areas that they don't currently populate to provide another hunting opportunity.  Before October 1st, there were no laws to prevent this.  A pig can breed as early as 7 months old and produce 1-10 piglets every 6 months or so.  (This is alot lower than I was taught in Wildlife Management at HCC).  To sum it up they make a lot of babies and they survive well, and live up to 12 years.  That's a lot of accumulation of destructive bacon.   http://www.tryondailybulletin.com/2011/07/22/wild-hogs-invade-hogback-mountain/