The Complicated Cost of Wild Pigs: It’s More Than You Think

Nothing is more sickening to a farmer or rancher than waking up to a field damaged by wild pigs. New research from the University of Georgia (UGA) is putting a number on the startling damage inflicted on farms and crops by this invasive species.

After viewing thousands of acres of damaged fields and wild pig activity in southwest Georgia, the research team estimates $107,000 in crop value lost per year. This did not include worker wages or equipment.

“Unfortunately, these pigs and their impact go just beyond what you might think,” says Justine Smith, lead author of the study and a doctoral student at UGA. “They impact our native wildlife and plants, both directly and indirectly. They’re incredibly disruptive. They cause a lot of damage.”