Appearance:
Wild hogs can reach weights of more than 150 pounds and measure 5 to 6 feet long.
Habitat:
Wild hogs occur in all 67 counties of Florida. They are found in a wide variety of habitats but prefer oak-cabbage palm hammocks, freshwater marshes and sloughs, pine flatwoods, and more open agricultural areas.
Behavior:
They usually travel in small family groups or alone. Wild hogs eat a variety of plants and animals and feed by rooting with their broad snouts. They may disturb the soil and ground cover vegetation and leave the area looking like it has been plowed.
Additional Information:
The wild hog (Sus scrofa) is also called feral hog, feral swine, feral pig, wild boar, wild pig or piney woods rooter. This species is not native to Florida. However, resident populations have existed here for hundreds of years – they may have been introduced by Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto as early as 1539.
Trying to prevent wild hogs from coming onto your property can be difficult, but adequate fencing should keep them out of small yards and gardens. With landowner permission, wild hogs may be trapped, shot or hunted year-round with no fees, licenses or permits required (including when using a gun and light during non-daylight hours). Poisoning wild hogs is prohibited. Private nuisance wildlife trappers offer services including trapping, removal and disposal of wild hogs. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) regulates the transportation and holding of live wild hogs. Persons transporting or holding live wild hogs must contact the FDACS to obtain appropriate permits.
On FWC-managed public lands, persons wishing to hunt wild hogs must follow area-specific regulations. These regulations include permit requirements, public access guidelines and hunting seasons and dates specific to each area.