Experts issue warning after wild pigs and boars breed to form dangerous hybrid species

California has a real menace on its hands that has been in the making for over three centuries. 

Hybrid pig-boars are running wild in the state due to a series of regrettable decisions dating back to the 1700s.

What's happening?

Islands reported that breeding has inadvertently created a type of "hybrid creature" — a mixture of domestic pigs and wild boars — which is causing significant problems throughout the state.

The issues began in the 1700s when Spanish settlers introduced their own pigs. Their Russian counterparts did the same in the 1800s. While it wasn't intended to do so, a mid-19th-century effort to cull bears boosted the animals' prospects with a top predator out of the mix.

Canadian George Gordon Moore introduced the European boar for his own hunting enjoyment in the roaring 1920s. Now, years of crossbreeding between introduced domestic pigs and wild boars has resulted in a more aggressive version of the pig. 

These animals can tip the scales at 250 pounds, and they live across 56 of California's 58 counties. Their small tusks can injure pets and small children, while their appetite and poop can cause major damage to water sources and the local ecosystem.

Why is the infiltration of invasive pigs in California important?

These pigs, or feral hogs, aren't just a nuisance; they end up costing a lot of money. As Islands noted, they are responsible for over $1.5 billion in damages annually throughout the U.S. These pigs are known for tearing up land to find food and for spreading diseases and parasites.

Wild pigs in California are particularly detrimental to local ecosystems and water sources. 

They also add an extra element of danger to exploring the state's many natural wonders. Their numbers make encounters more likely than with typically feared animals such as mountain lions and bears.

They also aren't the easiest animals to eradicate, as other states, such as Arkansas, have experienced. It takes deliberate steps and major investment to make a dent, rather than a catch-all solution.

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What's being done about feral hogs?

Around the country, there are a variety of ways to take on feral hogs. Georgia is incentivizing landowners and equipping them with pricey sounder traps to kill more of them than recreational hunting can accomplish.

Arkansas is using aerial surveillance to more intelligently monitor and trap the animals. Once they're dead, some chefs are preparing recipes so residents can turn them into tasty meals.

In California, there have been efforts to loosen restrictions on hunting wild pigs. Still, travelers and locals will have to stay vigilant for the animals' presence and stay calm if they encounter them while hiking.

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