From stealing laptops to disturbing neighborhoods, wild hogs are causing chaos in the US and Europe – but should we be worried?
In a surprising turn of events, wild hogs are becoming a global menace. While much of the world has focused on more traditional threats like pandemics, climate change, and geopolitical instability, it seems we’ve overlooked the rapidly expanding presence of feral pigs, or “wild hogs.”
Known for their aggressive behavior and increasing population, these hogs have been causing trouble across the United States and Europe. In places like Corona, California, wild boar are wreaking havoc, tearing up lawns and upsetting residents. What initially appeared to be a localized issue has escalated, with the US Department of Agriculture revealing that feral hogs now infest 38 states, totaling a staggering 6 million pigs. These animals are responsible for causing $1.5 billion in damages annually.
But the problem isn’t limited to the United States. Europe, particularly Barcelona, is facing its own wild hog crisis. The Spanish city has been dealing with boar outbreaks for years, with police receiving over 1,100 complaints about the creatures in 2016 alone. The boars, once confined to rural areas, are now increasingly intruding into urban spaces, rummaging through trash and disrupting public life.
Despite their increasingly disruptive presence, authorities seem slow to respond, leaving residents and cities scrambling to find solutions. As the wild hogs continue to grow in numbers and spread to new areas, we must ask ourselves: Are we witnessing the beginning of a swine-led invasion, or just an inconvenient nuisance? Either way, 2021 seems to be their year.
