Pennsylvania is no stranger to invasive species. The Keystone State’s woods and waters are home to many non-native species, many of which have adapted well and are now more commonplace than some native species. The new species is sometimes welcomed and adds to the overall outdoor experience. Other times, the latest species displace native species, ruin habitat, and have the potential to devastate that experience. So, where does the wild hog fit in? Is it here, and if so, will it be a bust or boom?

If you have talked to almost any outdoorsman in the last few weeks, chances are good that the topic of wild hogs has come up. Why? Because several outlets have printed articles regarding an “invasion of southern pigs” and the threat they pose to Pennsylvania’s ecosystem. Most of the articles relied on a report conducted by the University of Georgia and provided to media outlets by an out-of-state hunting & fishing booking website. This report stated that approximately three dozen hogs were identified in 14 counties, mainly in the south-central and north-central regions.

While the report is accurate, it suggested that the presence of hogs was a recent development and that their potential source is the more prominent teams of hogs roaming many southern states. But is this true? Is Pennsylvania being invaded by rebel hogs?

No, this does not appear to be the case. The United States Department of Agriculture tracks the movement of feral hogs, primarily due to their destruction of commercial crops. While their range has expanded considerably in the last 20 years, including moving farther & farther north, the southern populations have not reached Penn’s Woods – yet. Although resident populations vary yearly and may increase in some counties, their locations have remained relatively consistent for over a decade.

So, how did the hogs get here? Wild hogs are not native to the United States and are here because they were imported. Some were imported as a food source, a practice dating back to the earliest settlers. Others were imported by hunting preserves to provide customers with a unique opportunity. In both cases, hogs escaped and adapted to the local habitat. Almost overnight, a wild hog population was established.

Regardless of how wild hogs got here, they are a concern. Enough so that the Game Commission attempted to block further imports for hunting over a decade ago – a move blocked by Governor Corbett’s administration. Not only do they destroy crops, rooting massive areas almost overnight in search of bugs they dine on, but they also face potential health risks to both humans and domestic pig farms. While some hunters believe that an expanded wild hog population would provide a welcomed hunting opportunity, the more likely result would be disruption to native species.

Rest easy for those hoping to bag wild hog without traveling to Texas, Florida, or the Carolinas. Although your chances of running into a Pa hog are limited, they are all yours if you do. As non-domesticated mammals, wild hogs do fall under the protection of the Pa Game Commission. However, the PGC has removed almost all wild-hog hunting regulations.

≤ PGC’s official policy regarding wild hogs is eradication is the preferred solution.

≤ Any licensed hunter may take a hog if encountered in the wild in an area they have the authority to hunt.

≤ Wild hogs may be hunted 365 days per year, and no bag limit exists.

≤ Some areas are off-limits due to official eradication programs. Hunters may not take hogs in these areas. Check with the local Game Commission office for an updated list of where eradication programs are taking place.

≤ It is illegal to release pigs, hogs, or other members of the Suidae family into the wild.

≤ Hunters must report any wild hogs harvested within 24 hours.

Good luck good hunting.