Feral Pigs:
An Invasive Species
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Abstract :
Feral pigs, Sus scrofa, are simply pigs living on their own account, which have either escaped or been released and may or may not include actual wild boar genes. They are hoofed mammals that for centuries have been a dependable source of food for humans, in both domestic and wild varieties. They are native to Central Europe, Northern Africa, and some parts of Asia, but have been introduced to almost all parts of the world. Explorers to North America established populations of pigs into the lands they traveled in order to produce a renewable food source. Feral pigs have since invaded and thrived in the many different ecosystems. These animals possess numerous qualities that allow them to survive in the many ecosystems, granting them an almost unlimited range to the extent that they continue spread to new areas of the continents where they have been introduced. As a result, of their adaptability and destructive habits there have been many associated consequences to the ecology of these areas, making them a truly invasive species.