US ecosystem threatened by intelligent 'super pig' breed

The US is facing an 'invasion' of 'super pigs', hybrids of wild boars and domestic pigs, as previous control measures have been ineffective.

According to the Guardian, 'super pigs' are intelligent and large animals that have survived the winter in Canada and are now migrating to the northern states of the US. These animals have the ability to burrow deep under the snow, creating warm burrows.

Illustration photo: AP

'Wild pigs are the worst invasive large mammals on the planet,' said Ryan Brook, head of the University of Saskatchewan's feral pig research project . 'They are incredibly intelligent and very elusive.' When faced with danger, especially if humans start hunting them, they are almost entirely nocturnal, hiding in swamps where they are difficult to locate, Brook said.

Michael Marlow, assistant director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's feral hog management program, noted that feral hogs are harmful to the environment . They eat crops, damage trees and other animals, pollute water sources and pose a threat to human health and safety.

Their enormous size - they can even weigh up to 300kg - allows them to survive harsh winters and reproduce despite expert control.

In some areas, because wild boars are multiplying so rapidly, local authorities and people have set up pig hunting teams.

However, 'super pigs' have the ability to change their habits and adapt quickly to new environments . For example, if hunted, they will become nocturnal and almost elusive.

One method experts are using is to trap a pig, put a GPS collar on it, and release it back into the wild to find the rest of the herd. In Canada, experts say the chances of eradicating the breed are running out.

Mr. Ryan Brook said the period of 2010 - 2012 was probably the last chance to hunt and destroy them. But now, their numbers are too large.

Authorities estimate that the roughly six million feral pigs in the United States cause $1.5 billion in damage to the economy each year.