Feral Hogs Negatively Affect Native Plant Communities

Feral hogs cause a great deal of damage to the Texas landscape. One damage that may not be as obvious is their impact on native plant communities. Researchers at Rice University and Texas A&M University conducted a study in the Big Thicket National Preserve excluding feral hogs from study plots to determine if feral hogs impacted vegetation. There were several interesting findings, one being that large seeded tree species such as oaks were less abundant in unfenced areas due to consumption by feral hogs. Additionally unfenced plots had more bare ground and less plant diversity, most likely due to rooting by feral hogs. For more findings from this research and management recommendations in ecologically sensitive areas see this new publication titled: "Feral Hogs Negatively Affect Native Plant Communities" available below or at the Texas AgriLife Extension bookstore.

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