Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
2013
Citation
Proceedings of the 15th Wildlife Damage Management Conference. (J. B. Armstrong, G. R. Gallagher, Eds). 2013.
Abstract
Feral swine (Sus scrofa) are an invasive species that now occur throughout much of the United States and cause significant damage to property, agricultural crops, and natural resources. Damages to agricultural crops and natural resources result from their wallowing, rooting, and feeding behaviors. Feral swine also act as vectors for numerous diseases and parasites that pose serious implications for livestock, people, pets, and wildlife. Since 2010, federal and state wildlife management agencies have confirmed the presence of feral swine in a number of counties in Illinois. In an attempt to protect both agricultural interests and natural resources from feral swine damage, the USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources have implemented an integrated feral swine damage management program. This collaborative approach utilizes multiple removal techniques combined with public outreach and education in an effort to eliminate feral swine populations before they become established and to prevent the establishment of a culture of feral swine hunting in Illinois.