Distribution, Habitat Use, and Morphotypes of Feral Hogs (Sus scrofa) in Illinois

Abstract

ABSTRACT Feral hogs ( Sus scrofa ) recently have been introduced to Illinois. They are important toresource managers because of their potentially negative ecological and economicimpacts. We assessed the distribution, habitat use, and body morphology of feral hogs inIllinois. We confirmed the occurrence of feral hogs in Fulton, Hardin, Johnson, Law-rence, Massac, Pope, Randolph, and Union counties. Forest and croplands probably arethe most important habitats for feral hogs in Illinois. We found free-ranging hogs in Illi-nois included four previously described morphotypes with distinguishable physi-cal/cranial characteristics: domestic hogs, feral hogs, hybrids, and Eurasian wild hogs.However, 32.6% of individuals were outside of these previously described morphotypes.External morphology and pelage usually were consistent with cranial analysis in deter-mining morphotypes. Whole and dressed body weight regression indicated that dressedweight was about 85% of whole weight. We suggest that the goal of resource managers inIllinois should be to contain or eradicate existing feral hog populations. This should beaddressed while populations are small and relatively isolated. If current practices con-tinue, feral hogs have the potential to eventually increase in density and distributionthroughout much of Illinois.Key words: exotic, feral hogs, introductions,