Hog Out Month was established in October by the Texas Department of Agriculture (T.D.A.). Throughout the month, T.D.A. emphasizes the various problems that hogs cause in the state. The organization’s 2014 Coordinated Hog Out Management Program (C.H.O.M.P.), running from September 1 through November 30, coincides with Hog Out Month and works in collaboration with different towns to reduce the number of wild hogs wreaking havoc across the state.
History of Hog Out Month
Despite Texas’s substantial feral pig population, these creatures aren’t native to the land. Early explorers and settlers brought them to the United States to sustain themselves in the 1500s. The nation’s feral swine populations were initially established due to free-range livestock management practices and escapes from confinement. In contrast, the Eurasian or Russian wild boar was brought into parts of the country for sport hunting in the early 1900s. Currently, feral pigs are a mix of stray domestic pigs, Eurasian wild boars, and hybrids of these creatures.
Since 1982, when wild hogs were found in only 18 states, the population has steadily increased. With a current approximate population of six million, feral hogs have already been reported in 35 states. Between 1982 and 2016, the country’s wild pig population has grown from 2.4 million to about 6.9 million. Of this, 2.6 million wild hogs can be found causing billions of dollars in damage in rural and urban areas in Texas annually.
Hog Out Month, an initiative to chase out feral hogs in Texas, was pushed in 2009. The T.D.A. set aside October 2010 to address the significant concerns these animals cause wherever they go. Various types of properties, including farmlands, end up significantly damaged.
Hog Out Month timeline
Early explorers and settlers bring feral hogs to the U.S. as a food source.
The Eurasian or Russian wild boar is transported to some states for sport hunting.
The country’s wild hog population balloons to 2.4 million.
The Texas Department of Agriculture declares the first Hog Out Month to start ridding the state of these menaces.
Hog Out Month FAQs
Can you eat feral pigs?
Although they might carry some bacteria, feral hogs can be eaten. They actually taste better than farm-raised pigs because wild hogs can roam around, making them leaner.
Are pigs known to bite humans?
Pigs may charge, bite, or run over humans and other domestic pets.
What is the distinction between hogs and pigs?
A pig is a young, immature pig, whereas a hog is a swine weighing over 120 pounds.
How to Observe Hog Out Month
Learn about hog removal
Find out how to get rid of wild hogs. Volunteer to teach landowners about feral hog removal methods, coordinate trapping and hunting programs, conduct aerial gunning, and resolve public safety concerns.
Submit a grant application
Individual counties in Texas are eligible to apply for C.H.O.M.P. funding. The number of hogs taken during the three-month challenge, as confirmed by the county, must be stated in the application.
Share online
If you cannot participate in trapping or hunting activities, there are other things you can do. Create posts online to raise awareness and support current efforts.
5 Interesting Facts About Wild Hogs
They eat anything
These animals devour almost anything, including crops and live animals.
Feral pigs are a nuisance
In Michigan, legislation was passed declaring feral pigs a nuisance.
Hunting licenses aren’t mandatory
Property owners don’t need hunting licenses to shoot animals on their land.
They breed a lot
Female pigs can breed as early as six months old and have up to two litters of piglets per year.
They’re disease-ridden
Feral pigs can transmit up to 30 viral and bacterial infections and 37 diseases that impact wildlife, pets, and humans.
Why Hog Out Month is Important
It creates awareness
Hogs are an environmental nuisance where they live. This day teaches us how to handle these animals properly.
It saves money
Hogs create destruction wherever they pass, damaging millions of dollars worth of property. Hog Out Month is a way to curtail these unnecessary expenses.
It is a form of animal control
Hogs reproduce at an alarming rate and can get very violent. Hog Out Month is a means of animal control to monitor their population.
Hog Out Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | October 1 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | October 1 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | October 1 | Thursday |
| 2027 | October 1 | Friday |
| 2028 | October 1 | Sunday |
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