commentary

milt thomas

Okay, maybe not a direct connection, but apparently both people and wild hogs like to live here. The U-Haul company has conducted a new study (read here) of moving trends and it places the Melbourne-Palm Bay metro area as the number one growth market in the entire US, based on one-way rentals. While U-Haul migration trends do not directly relate to population or economic growth, we know plenty of people are moving to Florida and we certainly notice it in Indian River County. While Indian River County is not technically part of that metro area, we are only a short drive south, which is close enough to attract newcomers exploring the area for restaurants, shopping, or taking advantage our natural beauty.

Florida is the third largest state in human population, but it is also the third largest in feral hog population, according to an article on the Captain Experiences website. (read here). The study was conducted by the University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health by tracking reported sightings of the porkers. Florida has 67 counties and every one of them complains about feral hogs. That includes Indian River County. You don’t find them shopping or renting U-Haul trailers, because they find everything they need out in the country.

Blame the Spanish. They brought domestic pigs and wild hogs to Florida for food along with palm trees and citrus fruit back in the 1500s. Then in the 1900s, European or Russian boars were brought to the US for sport hunting. Some of them eluded hunters and bred with descendents of wild pigs and hogs not eaten by the Spanish. So now we have hybrids that have evolved with the strongest characteristics of each, especially their intelligence and a strong sense of smell. Their ancestors did evade captivity and hunting after all, and with the availability of a 24-hour a day, all-you-can-eat banquet in the wild, they can grow up to 500 pounds each. On top of that, they are also quite fertile. A litter of newborn hogs averages between five and 12 piglets with as many as two litters per year.

While we humans are trying to control the spread of Brazilian pepper and lionfish, Porky Pig’s obese relatives are going hog wild across Florida with impunity. So, for the mother of all pig roasts, grab your rifle and rent a U-Haul trailer to bring home the bacon.