The following concise descriptions about the two animals are presented with a comparison and it would be worthwhile to go through the text. Warthog, Phacochoerus africanus , is also known as the common warthog.
It is a wild member of the Family: Suidae and mostly found in the savannah grasslands and woodlands of sub Saharan Africa. Warthogs are usually large animals with body lengths vary from 90 to centimetres, and the weights are about 50 — 75 kilograms. Their head is disproportionately large and broad, which is a unique feature of warthogs. In addition, the two pairs of long canine tusks are characteristic for them, especially the upper canines are longer than the lower, giving a wider appearance to the head and snout.
Fighting and digging have been the main functions of those tusks for these animals. Domestic swine arrived in Arkansas with the first settlers. Many escaped from their pens and headed for the hills, where they established breeding grounds and roamed town streets. This practice continued into the twentieth century, but the Depression forced many farmers to leave their country lifestyle for a more stable life in town.
Today, feral hogs are present in more than fifty Arkansas counties. The most common color for feral hogs is black. Boars have long, bristly hair, high shoulders, a sloping rump, long, skinny legs, and small hips. The massive wedge-shaped head with short, hairy, erect ears ends in a pointed snout. The nose is almost round and looks and feels somewhat soft but must be one of the most efficient rooting machines of any animal.
Boars dig up fields of crops with ease. Females are slightly smaller. The boar has long tusks. The upper tusks rub against the lower ones and sharpen them. It starts around the neck and extends just past the lower ribs. Boars adapt to various habitats as long as there is a reliable source of water. Usually, states will try to control the feral pig population, so it is important to know the difference between boars and feral pigs. Wild boars are known for being destructive. They can destroy almost any environment.
This damage leads to economic losses and high costs to repair the damages. So in many cases, wild boar are hunted to reduce their populations and the havoc they unleash on the environment. The following points are specific ways in which wild boars destroy the environment:. Source: Smithsonian. Wild boars are considered a problem in many states, so much so that there are designated times to hunt these boars throughout the year. But in some places, like Texas, you can hunt them year-round.
Population control is difficult but important to preserving the natural environment. The following points are some other quick facts about wild boars in the United States:. They are a major risk not only to human populations but also native vegetation and wildlife species. All swine are born with tusks, but domesticated pigs have their tusks removed shortly after birth.
However, the tusks on wild boars are a distinguishing feature because after they are removed from domesticated pigs, they will not grow back. The tusks grow in two sets and are actually teeth. The top tusks are sometimes called whetters or grinders , while the bottom pair are referred to as cutters.
These tusks are known to be sharp and can easily cause injury. The domestication of pigs for farm and industry is a relatively new milestone when looking at the historical records of pigs.
Here is a condensed timeline of when pigs were first seen in their earliest versions to how pigs, hogs, and boars are distinguished today:. As you can see, even though pigs and boars are similar species, domesticated pigs tend to make more headlines than boars. One of the biggest concerns that arise when discussing domesticated pigs is the welfare of the pigs. Source: Farm Sanctuary.
Pigs, hogs, and boars are very different in some respects. They have different scientific names, sizes, habitats, populations, diets, and lifespans. Depending on who you are talking to, pig, hog, and boar may be used interchangeably.
Keep this in mind next time you are talking about pigs. A pig can describe any swine, wild or domesticated, and most people assume domesticated. Hog refers to a domesticated pig of a certain size and age but can still refer to a wild pig. Finally, boar is most commonly used when talking about wild pigs but can refer to a pig on a farm if uncastrated.
Chickens are rarely, if ever, picky eaters which can make it all the more concerning when they are having a hard time keeping on weight. In order for a chicken to lay regularly and live the happiest Chickens are particular about where they sleep, how many Skip to content Pigs, hogs, and boars are all animals from the same family. Continue Reading. Varies by region largest boar is over 6 feet long and more than 3 feet tallWeights range by size between 15 and pounds.
Estimates vary, but most are in the millions Some species are threatened or endangered based on the Red List of Threatened Species. Corn, wheat, soy, or barley grains as feed Vegetable peels Fruit Various leftover foods. Even-toed ungulates first seen in the fossil record Pigs, hogs, and boars are descendants from this common ancestor. Some countries put quotas and limits in place to maintain a certain population while others will culling periods where hunters are permitted to kill as many as possible until the population stabilizes.
In much of America feral hogs are hunted at night using thermal optics. Even after sustaining severe injuries to both muscle tissues and organs, the survivability of wild hogs is immense. Wild boars are noted for running for several dozen yards before finally succumbing to a perfectly placed heart shot. The larger European wild hogs are typically hunted with rounds akin to the.
About the Author: Outdoor writer, Mason Sellers, spent much of his childhood on rural Texas farms and ranches where hunting and shooting opportunities were constant. He quickly developed an affinity for hunting feral pigs in Texas, then took his experience across the pond in pursuit of true wild hogs in Eastern Europe. He interns during summer months at Sellmark Corporation, continues to work on a business degree at Austin College and looks forward to continuing work in the outdoor industry.
Good article. I really enjoyed it. Hope to come across a pure Eurasian Wild Boar some day while hunting. Your email address will not be published. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. Feral hogs in America.
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