Wild pig, razorback, and feral hog are just some of the names used for a pest that devastates plants, crops, and ecosystems across the country. Having been reported in at least 35 states, feral hogs are most often thought of as being a Southern United States problem. However, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources says that at least 32 counties in the state have reported the presence of feral hogs.
Aaron Sumrall, Director of Outreach, Education, and Research at Pig Brig says that if wild pigs were able to become more established in Illinois and the Midwest, there would be impacts on not only water quality but also cropland.
“Where you’re at in the Midwest, there is a lot of agriculture, a lot of food resources, and things like that. So, if they can ever get established, and they’ve got they’ve got just a plethora of food options there to keep that that I guess that reproductive wheel turning and, in the problem, just gets worse.”
He adds that the pig problem is not just a farmer problem, but one that can impact all consumers.
