Feral hogs invading Pennsylvania's counties: The threat to local agriculture

Bedford County, PA — A new study shows the range of feral hogs expanding northwards into 14 of Pennsylvania's counties. It’s from the outdoor trip planning website, Captain Experiences, which uses data from The University Of Georgia.

Professors from the Penn State University say Bedford county is seeing the most severe of these effects, out of the 10 counties in our coverage area.

Melanie Barkley, of Penn State Bedford says “The Feral Swine” can easily adapt to life on their own. Foraging in fields and damaging the roots of crops.

“The farmers might see a nice field the evening before, and they come out the next morning, and the hogs have gone through, and literally destroyed a large portion of the crop. They root them up. They may feed on the crop themselves. They may be digging up insects in the soil where the crops are growing.” says Barkley.

Researchers say ways that hogs get a chance to revert to being wild include people releasing them, or if they happen to escape from farmers. Hogs can have multiple litters of 8 to 12 offspring.

The PA Game Commission says diseases carried by these pests include trichinosis, and brucellosis. Possible symptoms being a fever, chills, and headache.

With this in mind, experts say action is being taken. “So, if I understand correctly, the game commission is doing trapping in Bedford county.” Barkley says. She says if trapping is taking place, then people are not allowed to hunt feral hogs in the area. Regardless, the state game commission says all feral swine takings should be reported within 24 hours.