Super hogs
, a hybrid of wild pigs that were initially bred to tolerate the extreme climates of Canada, are raising concerns about the potential invasion that could take place in the northern US, according to Field and Stream
.
According to the portal, these giant mammals could extend to the states of North Dakota, Montana, Michigan, and Minnesota, which represents a problem for native species, since they feed on different animals, such as deer, elk,
and waterfowl,
reports
RT.
They can weigh 300 kilos and withstand temperatures of 50º below zero.
In addition, these feral pigs, which were
released more than 20 years ago
when the wild boar market in Canada closed, eat farmers' crops and are responsible for both destroying trees and polluting water, according to the Department of Agriculture. of the USA (USDA), which estimates that annually they cause losses of
1,500 million dollars
in damages in the country.
huge and resistant
According to the USDA, super pigs weigh between
34 kg and 113 kg
on average and can weigh twice as much.
In this sense, one was recorded that
exceeds 300 kg
.
The weight helps the species survive in very cold winters, where the wind chill can be as low as
-50 °C.
In addition, they create a type of burrow by digging tunnels up to
2 meters
below the snow and cover the bottom with reed plants, indicates
RT.
"
They are incredibly intelligent
. They are very elusive," said Ryan Brook, director of the Canadian wild boar research project at the University of Saskatchewan, quoted by
The Guardian
, explaining that if people were to hunt these giant mammals, it could be difficult to locate them, since they hide in the forests and disappear in the wetlands.
They are shot to death from helicopters (University of Saskatchewan).
Another fear surrounding the invasion of super pigs is the potential impact of the diseases they carry, particularly African swine fever, says
RT.
In Europe and China, the disease killed more than 30% of pigs in 2018 and 2019. In the Americas, no outbreak of the plague has yet been detected, something experts expect to continue.
The system to eliminate them
In the United States, they have tried to solve the problem of the invasion by implementing the "Judas pig"
method ,
through which a GPS collar is placed on an animal of the species and then released to gradually
eliminate
individuals with those found, reports
RT.
The pigs avoid the hunters who eliminate them with the "Judas pig".
However, it is claimed that the beasts are so widespread and abundant that it is currently difficult to eradicate them.
"They definitely moved and came here to stay," Brook said.
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