THE THREAT OF WILD HOGS

The National Park staff estimates, during the year 2000, that there are close to 2,000 wild hogs inhabiting Cumberland Island. With this high density, even the most casual visitor will probably run into a few, even during the day. Although the hogs typically forage at night, it’s not too surprising to see a mother and her piglets race across Main Road or through the underbrush on the northern end of the island. The sows mature in three months and can immediately start reproducing. Wild hogs can have three litters a year, averaging six to eight babies per litter.

Cumberland’s hogs are descendents of domesticated pigs that people brought to the island in the past. They vary in size and color, including brightly spotted. Unfortunately, they are doing tremendous damage to the island, and the park and the island’s residents are working hard to control the problem in as humane a way as possible. (Hunting the hogs is allowed, and this is done by way of a lottery. The Park Service has implemented a licensed, managed hunting program. If interested, you should contact the staff for information.)

Hogs’ eating patterns as omnivores and rooters greatly affect the island and its native inhabitants. They especially enjoy loggerhead turtle eggs. Unfortunately, these turtles are threatened with extinction and their eggs must be protected to ensure future generations. The hogs also eat acorns and other vegetation the native animals depend on for survival. And, as if their large appetites weren’t problem enough, these determined creatures also have the destructive habit of rooting for food, damaging native plants as well as the foundations of sensitive archeological sites.