Behavior and Ecology of Wild and Feral Swine (Sus Scrofa)

Abstract

An overview of wild and feral swine behavior is presented. In spite of their success as a domesticated animal in the New World, swine are relative newcomers to the Americas. Feral swine, i.e., domesticated stocks which have reentered the wild habitat, apparently became established after early stocking' by Spanish explorers, and wild stocks stem from much more recent imports. The function, or adaptive significance, of the behavior of wild and feral swine is usually readily apparent when studied within an ecological context, and such studies may provide insight into the behavior, well-being and management of domestic stocks.