John Oliver addressed the destructive nature of feral hogs on his HBO show Last Week Tonight, detailing how they have become an almost impossible problem to solve. The host described the creatures as 'actually a massive problem' at the moment, with some weighing as much as 400lbs. He called them 'one of the most destructive species in the country,' which is 'genuinely shocking' for something that 'looks adorable.'
Rapid Spread and Economic Damage
Oliver noted that feral hogs are 'spreading at an alarming rate' and not just in rural America. There are now over six million of them in the US, causing approximately $3bn of damage to agriculture each year. They have 'devastating effects on food production and the environment' and have killed slightly more people than sharks in the last 20 years. However, Oliver pointed out that many animals kill more people than sharks, including cows, 'and yet the cowards at Discovery Channel refuse to do Cow Week.'
Origins and Resilience
Oliver explained that pigs are not native to the US but were brought by people such as Christopher Columbus and various game hunters. Hogs have very few natural predators and are incredibly resourceful, with complex social relationships. A major problem is 'they cannot stop fucking,' leading to rising numbers even in urban settings. Oliver said it must be 'pretty alarming to see them in your neighbourhood,' and they can be 'very dangerous' on the road, causing damage to cars and even fighter jets.
Environmental Impact
Feral hogs eat farmers' crops, destroy seedlings, break up irrigation lines, and cause major holes in fields. They will eat almost anything, from corn to soya beans to peanuts to various creatures including sea turtles. 'No wonder some of those who study them describe hogs in apocalyptic terms,' Oliver said. They have been 'annihilating' most living things they come into contact with, leading to declines in 300 native plants and animals, over 250 of which are threatened or endangered. They also spread disease at a fast rate, with 30 pathogens and 40 parasites, making them 'incredibly difficult to contain.'
Control Efforts and Challenges
Oliver said that attempts to control the hogs have seen 'varying degrees of success.' Loosened laws within sport hunting have encouraged hunters to kill as many hogs as possible, but it's been hard to outsmart them. The hunting industry has often made the problem worse, as hogs have been transported to new states just to be hunted there. Oliver stated that hunting 'isn't going to be the sole answer here.' Trapping and poison have also been used, but a humane way to poison 'hasn't been discovered yet,' as it means inviting a 'toxic ingredient into a whole ecosystem.' There has also been contraceptive bait that would 'neutralise the ability to reproduce,' but it's female hogs that drive fertility.
Future Outlook
'As it stands, no single method is going to be able to control our feral hog population by itself,' Oliver said. 'Instead, it's going to take a bunch of tools and the key thing is to use them wisely.' States like Iowa, New York, and Idaho addressed the problem early on and have no hogs, but Texas now has a huge problem. Oliver concluded that they are 'probably always gonna be with us in some capacity.'
