Ability to Respond Total:16 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:High
Confidence Notes:
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
It is predicted that populations will continue to spread to new regions within the state. There is some evidence that climate change could be facilitating population expansion to new regions of the state and North America. Pigs are highly prolific.
3
Spread Amount
CA populations widespread, and have spread steadily under most CA climate conditions. Feral pigs have been reported in all California counties since the early 2000s.
3
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
Due to their high adaptability and a wide-ranging diet, wild pigs have the potential to negatively affect many types of native plant communities. Their rooting behavior disturbs the soil and can lead to soil erosion and proliferating invasive plants.
4
Agricultural
Pigs are a common nuisance within many agricultural sectors including row crops, pastures, livestock production and others.
4
Infrastructure
In California's mediterranean climate, wild pigs are often attracted to water sources in the summer to drink and wallow. As such, they can do physical damage to waterways (stock ponds, canals) and pipes (irrigation, stock water trough systems).
2
Cultural
Wild pigs can cause damage in urban settings with landscaping, gardening, and negative human/pet interactions.
1
Health
Wild pigs attributed a large E. coli outbreak, 2009, in Salinas spinach. Of the 30 diseases that wild pigs carry, 20 can be transferred to humans.
4
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
Wild pigs are sought-after game species for many sportsmen and are particularly important as a ceremonial food-stuff for some cultures.
2
Health
0
Total
19
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
In wildlands, most pig damage is plainly visible for multiple weeks/moths after rooting.
5
Control
Hunting, trapping/ shooting and toxicants, depending on level of infestation density vs. level of reduction sought.
3
Tools in Place
Notes
Score
Entry
Wild pigs were first introduced to California in 1769 by the Spanish missionaries and now inhabit most of the state. Eliminating populations when they first arrive on new properties should be considered a high-priority for those ownerships.
2
Control
Trapping or shooting an incipient population may be effective. Eradication efforts are very costly and in most cases, pressure from hunting will drive wild pigs to move away from where they are hunted before the population is extirpated.
3
Outreach
CDFW has attempted to develop programs (SHARE Hunts) to allow the public to harvest problem animals on private property. Although successful in some cases, it has not been widely accepted.
