Fall Foods of European Wild Hogs in the Southern Appalachians

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine fall food habits of European wild hogs (Sus scrof) in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Seventy-three hog stomachs were collected dunng big game hunts on the Tellico Wildlife Management Area, Cherokee National Forest. Principal plant foods were acorns ( Quers spp. ) and hickory nuts (Carys spp. ) and the principal imal food was invertebrates. Plant and animal foods constituted 89.4 and 6.4 percent respectively, in volume of total foods consumed. The degree of competition for mast between hogs and native wildlife nnay depend on the quantity and quality of the annual mast crop. The relationships of hogs with native fauna and flora should be investigated before hogs are transplanted into unoccupied habitat. A thorough food habits study is fundamental in delineating the life history and determining managemerst objectives for the European wild hog. Although this animal has been established in the southern Appalachian Mountains of southeastern Tennessee for approximately 50 years, little is known of its food habits. This study was undextaken to determine the seasonal utilization of plant and animal items by the European wild hog in the southem Appalachian Mountains. Only fall food habits are considered. Because of the interest in transplanting European wild hogs to other areasn information conceining its relationships with native fauna and flora is imperative. Appreciation is extended to Dr. G. H. Matschke former project leader, who collected most of the stomachsv to L. A. Hunt and J. D. Morris, Game and Fish Commission employees, for assistance with the analytical procedures; and to Judith D. Way, University of Tennessee, for identifying the invertebrates. We thank Dr. M. R. Peltonn University of Tennessee7 for reading the manuscript and offering suggestions, 1A contribution from Tennessee Federal Aid Project W-34-R, Game Management Division, Research Section. 2 Prewsent address: U.S.D.A., Forest Service, Federal Building, Lufldn) Texas. 854 and L. J. Korsehgen, Missouri Department of Conservationt for adviee in analyzing the data.