Hog wild: KY one of the top states with a costly feral pig problem, but don’t shoot them

 They’re 5 feet long, can weigh up to 500 pounds, run at 30 miles per hour and according to one biologist who studies them, they’re “one of the most destructive invasive species on the planet.” Feral swine, scientific name Sus scrofa, are the same species of pig you would find on a farm, but this isn’t Wilbur from “Charlotte’s Web.” As omnivores, they eat pretty much everything. They wreak havoc on farmer’s fields and prey on vulnerable livestock, causing billions of dollars in agricultural damage each year. They’re also a nuisance to native species, displacing them with aggression and competition as they spread disease and parasites.Using data from the University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, the analysis determined which states have the biggest wild pig problems. It ranked the states based on the percentage of counties where wild hogs have been sighted, along with other factors, such as the number of feral swine reports...MORE