Living Plows

Hungryland Slough Natural Area, Palm Beach County


plowed land

This is what the land looks like after a wild hog or two or three forages through. It's plowed up. Could have been some rare or endangered plant growing there. Gone. Could have been habitat for a rare or endangered animal. Gone. On top of everything else, the uneven ground they create makes it difficult for land managers to conduct prescribed burns needed periodically to maintain healthy habitats. In our experience hogs are going to skedaddle as fast possible the moment they sense the presence of a human being, but they can be aggressive and dangerous, especially sows with offspring. And at their size, as much as 150 pounds, they don't have many natural enemies to worry about other than us. Hunting is prohibited in natural areas, but managers do employ trappers to (humanely) control the hog population. Hogs, by the way, are not native to North America, but they've been running wild in the wilds of Florida for nearly 500 years thanks to early Spanish explorers, who allegedly released a few during their expeditions so they would have a source of food during future trips. Back to the beginning


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Published by Wild South Florida, PO Box 7241, Delray Beach, FL 33482.
Photographs by David Sedore. Photographs are property of the publishers and may not be used without permission.