Thanks, Canada

Apparently, there's been a cross-breeding event between domestic pigs and wild hogs that have created "super pigs." These so-called "super pigs" have been running amuck and creating a path of destruction through Canada and are currently headed towards the United States. The crimes of these wild swine that have been observed so far include but are not limited to: eating commercial crops, destroying trees, polluting water, and spreading diseases (some of which are potentially transferable to humans).

We're sure as you're reading this you're wondering a few things such as the following question: What's the difference between domestic pigs and wild hogs? Wild versus domestic pigs aren't quite as different as say a domestic house cat and a tiger, but much like a domestic house cat and tiger, wild pigs and domestic pigs share a common ancestor. In this case, the ancestor is closer between the pigs than it is between the cat species, and therefore the wild and domestic pigs are compatible in terms of breeding. Thus we get obnoxious hybrids like the wild hog and domestic pig combination as observed in Canada.

What are some of the differences between these two types of pigs? Don't be fooled by the liberal switching of the words pig and hog. Wild hogs and domestic pigs, while similar, don't really look alike. It's like comparing a coyote to a German Shepherd; the coyote is roughly shaped like a dog, but in now way looks or behaves like a German Shepherd. So, unsurprisingly, unlike the more cuddly looking pink-ish colored domestic pigs, wild hogs often have coarse dark hair and tusks.

In the US, feral hogs are considered an invasive species and are known for leaving destruction in their wake. In fact, the US government estimates that around 6 million feral pigs are responsible for about $1.5 billion in damages in 34 states. Mind you, these aren't cute little pigs like Wilbur. No, these pigs can stand at 3.5 feet tall and have been observed to weigh between 110 and 250 pounds on average (which is similar to the European variety of wild hogs). In comparison, domestic pigs can range in size from 110 pounds to 770 pounds and can stand between 3 feet and 6 feet in height. To be clear, those height measurements are from head to foot. Like domestic pigs, wild hogs are omnivores and will eat just about anything. A small wild hog weighing at 110 pounds needs between 4000 and 4500 calories.

Whose fault is it that there is such a large feral pig problem in the US currently? Some argue that it was Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto who brought 13 pigs to North America in 1539. Another population to blame would be hunters, who intentionally release pigs in order to develop hunting populations. Others would argue that it's the farmers who created the first "super pigs" in the 1980s in order to yield more meat (spoiler alert: the pigs escaped captivity and managed to survive in Canada). As it turns out, being huge helps a lot with harsh winters, so that particular pig population was able to thrive despite the climate being unfavorable to them. Unfortunately for the US, the Canadians were not able to get the wild hog population under control, so the focus has shifted from population control to damage control. 

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