Feral hogs in Upstate NY

[Ishmael8]

Just a thought, would wolves or mountain Lions control the feral hog and/or coyote population?

[Eastern Puma]

Florida panthers definitely prey on hogs in southern Florida. In the 1930s, according to the late David Maehr, the government sponsored a deer-eradication program in an effort to eliminate tick fever, which infected cattle. Deer numbers were greatly reduced in panther range. Maehr believed that panthers might have become extinct but for the presence of hogs as an alternative food source.

Mountain lions prey on hogs in coastal California but no one claims they are controlling their numbers.

In the book DREAMING OF WOLVES: ADVENTURES IN THE CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS OF TRANSYLVANIA by Alan E. Sparks, I learned that hogs are the principal prey of wolves in Romania. (Hogs are native to Eurasia.)

Cougars and wolves would probably impact the behavior of hogs (as they affect the behavior of deer and elk in the West), but might not reduce their numbers.

[EagleCrag]

From what I've read, reducing their numbers via hunting doesn't work because of their rapid reproduction rate. Sort of like trying to bail a leaky boat with a shot glass. I'm a hunter and would love the opportunity to hunt them, but that doesn't mean I want them around. They will do far more harm (both to other wildlife and crops) than good. Seems like invasive species are coming at us from land, air, and sea. NYS is slow to react to prevent them in most cases.

[smr220]

Apologies for resurrecting this ancient thread. I was driving back from the Catskills (specifically Monticello) and came across a Wild Boar carcass on side of Highway 17. Clear as day. I was under the impression that they had been eradicated from the State, but clearly they’re still present. Not ADK related I know but figured I would post about my sighting.

[Woodly]

That's very interesting. They are great eating. They are also great at eating everything and anything edible. they aren't fussy.
Did you get any photos?

[timberghost]

Originally Posted by smr220

Apologies for resurrecting this ancient thread. I was driving back from the Catskills (specifically Monticello) and came across a Wild Boar carcass on side of Highway 17. Clear as day. I was under the impression that they had been eradicated from the State, but clearly they’re still present. Not ADK related I know but figured I would post about my sighting.

If it was around Rock Hill / Neversink river area, there are several private "game preserves" near there - most likely an escapee.

Eradicating wild boars is a whack a mole game - when they don't see any more animals or signs for a while, declare them gone (doesn't mean they got all of them though as some could've dispersed / moved on).

[Woodly]

Are those 'preserve' hogs tagged/marked in any manner?

[backwoodsman]

From 2014
https://www.pressrepublican.com/spor...112e01a22.html

[Woodly]

Originally Posted by backwoodsman

From 2014
https://www.pressrepublican.com/spor...112e01a22.html

Interesting article. Kind of strange though, coyote hunting is allowed though its a fact the more hunting pressure they get the larger the litters they have.
I realize a hog can do more damage, especially on animals and crops the coyote would not.
I didn't realize 'Preserve Hunting' wouldn't be/isn't allowed.

[timberghost]

Originally Posted by Woodly

Are those 'preserve' hogs tagged/marked in any manner?

That would be a question for preserve managers, I've only seen the outside of their fences from public highway.

Practically, It'd be difficult if not near impossible to tag / brand feral hogs on a preserve unless they had a farm operation with only sterilized pigs being released.

Likewise, even if hogs are/were prohibited - the only way to rid a preserve of existing population would be to kill all of those they had before the ban.

[Lucky13]

Originally Posted by Woodly

Interesting article. Kind of strange though, coyote hunting is allowed though its a fact the more hunting pressure they get the larger the litters they have.
I realize a hog can do more damage, especially on animals and crops the coyote would not.
I didn't realize 'Preserve Hunting' wouldn't be/isn't allowed.

I don't think Feral Hogs have been known to go after small children and pet dogs in suburban areas.

[Woodly]

Originally Posted by Lucky13

I don't think Feral Hogs have been known to go after small children and pet dogs in suburban areas.

I think they would. They aren't particular and can be quite ornery. But 'suburban area' might limit that.

[Lucky13]

But coyotes have done that, and very close to the cities. And Feral Hogs don't eat deer that are still "on the hoof."

[Woodly]

Hogs do eat fawns on the hoof...and mama is defenseless.
No doubt about the coyotes-heck they're living IN cities now and any smaller critter is fair game...and many larger critters are too.

[Schultzz]

"When a dog runs at you, whistle for him.
Henry David Thoreau

I tried that today and the SOB tried to bite me. A Bulldog no less so I call that Bull $hit.

[Tug Hill]

Originally Posted by Woodly

Interesting article. Kind of strange though, coyote hunting is allowed though its a fact the more hunting pressure they get the larger the litters they have.
I realize a hog can do more damage, especially on animals and crops the coyote would not.
I didn't realize 'Preserve Hunting' wouldn't be/isn't allowed.

I think that the statement that by reducing the coyote population, that the litters will be larger is questionable.

More than half of the coyotes I trap or shoot are female, so if you eliminate a large segment of the females, there are less females to have litters. They will not produce large litters if they are dead.

[Woodly]

Originally Posted by Tug Hill

I think that the statement that by reducing the coyote population, that the litters will be larger is questionable.

More than half of the coyotes I trap or shoot are female, so if you eliminate a large segment of the females, there are less females to have litters. They will not produce large litters if they are dead.

Its a proven fact.
Eliminate a female the next one has more pups, that's why they never get elimimated and just spread...They respond to pressure, but
No sense in debating it, read some of the newest books on them...and regardless I don't like them much and am glad you trap which I have no problem with.

[backwoodsman]

https://www.outdoornews.com/2011/12/...-more-coyotes/

[Woodly]

Originally Posted by backwoodsman

https://www.outdoornews.com/2011/12/...-more-coyotes/

Good link

[Tug Hill]

Originally Posted by Woodly

Good link

Didn’t read any proof in that article ?? I’m going by what I see on the ground, not what some so called expert writes in a newspaper, or state biologists that can not tell the difference between a squirrel and a Marten track.

After trapping and hunting many coyotes in my area for several years, I have a tough time finding any now. What proves it to me is, when I had a large coyote population I had few if any fox. Now I catch more red and grey fox than I do coyotes.