Scientists: Even with current harvest, feral pig population will double
In a recent report, Texas A&M scientists estimate there are about 2.5 million feral hogs in Texas.
But here is what is really interesting: If left unchecked, they found that the pig population will triple within five years. They are prolific, these pigs.
Of course the population will not be left unchecked. In 2010, an estimated 750,000 pigs were harvested, or 29 percent of the population. That sounds harsh, but it’s really not.
The scientists estimate with such a harvest the feral hog population will still double every five years. Even a high harvest — 41 percent of the population, annually — will allow the wild pig population to actually grow by 12 percent a year.
An annual harvest rate of 66 percent is required to hold the feral hog population in check, the scientists believe.
More at http://blog.chron.com/sciguy/2013/03/scientists-even-with-current-harvest-feral-pig-population-will-double/ .
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