COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s pig farmers, along with many others in the state’s agricultural community, are offering thanks to Gov. Mike DeWine for signing H.B. 503 into law.

Known as the Feral Swine bill, it prohibits the importing of non-native feral swine into the state, which causes up to $2.5 million in losses to livestock, land and crops each year. Nationwide the damage stands at approximately $2.5 billion.

“This is a great day for Ohio’s pork industry and for all of our state’s agricultural interests,” said Cheryl Day, executive vice president of the Ohio Pork Council. “We certainly want to express our sincere thanks for the amazing bipartisan support that this vital piece of legislation was shown in both houses of the state legislature. This kind of support is not taken for granted.”

Groups such as Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Dairy Producers Association, Ohio Cattleman’s Association, Ohio Soybean Association, Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, Ohio Poultry Association, Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association and the Ohio Forestry Association joined in their support for H.B. 503 during its time in the legislative process.

Forty-four states have some type of ban on importing feral swine. Seventeen, including Ohio, have a total ban.

“We thank Ohio lawmakers, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Gov. DeWine for taking this monumental step in bringing greater protection of our state’s livestock and crop producers,” Day said.

The bill prohibits the hunting of wild pigs in Ohio, with an exception. The bill allows lanndowners to shoot feral swine to protect their property. Hunters are required to report the harvest to state officials within 24 hours. So far, feral swine can be found in eight of Ohio’s 88 counties.

Kentucky and Tennessee are among the states that already ban possession of these animals.

Feral swine, often called wild boars, can grow to five feet long, weigh up to 500 pounds, run up to 30 miles per hour and, according to many biologists, are one of the most destructive invasive species on the planet. The swine carry at least 40 parasites, 30 bacterial and viral illnesses, and can infect humans, livestock and other animals with diseases like brucellosis and tuberculosis.

As omnivores, feral swine eat pretty much everything. They wreak havoc on farmers’ fields and prey on vulnerable livestock, causing billions of dollars in agriculture damage each year. They’re also a nuisance to native species, displacing them with aggression and competition as they spread disease and parasites.

Wild hogs have a vigorous reproductive potential. In favorable conditions, sows can breed as young as 5 to 10 months old, and are capable of producing litters of three-eight piglets twice a year.

Since their introduction to North America in the 1500s, the feral swine population have expanded across more than three-quarters of the country. According to the USDA, their population has grown to more than nine million.

The wild animal has expanded westward and northward, with states like California, Hawaii and Michigan reporting fairly large feral hog populations.

Kentucky is going one step further to limit its wild hog population. The state is finalizing a ban on private hog hunting to more easily track and capture the pigs.

Nearly 300 native plant and animal species in the U.S. are in rapid decline because of feral swine, and many of the species are already at risk, according to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Public hunting is one of the most popular mitigation tactics of wild hogs and has become a common recreational activity. But hogs often relocate in response to pressures of hunting. Fencing and trapping can be more effective in mitigating wild hog populations but require more upkeep and investment.

Feral swine hurt crop yields by rummaging through farmers’ fields. They usually target sugar cane, corn, grain sorghum, wheat, oats, peanuts and rice, among other crops. Vegetable and fruit crops, including lettuce, spinach, melons and pumpkins are also targets for roving wild hogs. If given the opportunity, they will also prey upon lambs, full-grown sheep, baby goats and calves.

Hoosiers can feel safe as there are no known wild pig populations in Indiana.

“There has not been a confirmed sighting of a wild pig in the state for more than three years,” said Lee Humberg, Indiana state director for Wildlife Services at USDA. “We still get calls where someone will report that they believe they’ve seen a wild pig. In most cases, it’s a domestic pig that has escaped or one that someone has dumped.”

However, Humberg said that as recently as 2018, Indiana was estimated to have around 1,000 wild hogs.

Feral hogs are a problem in Michigan, as they’ve been spotted in 26 percent of Michigan’s 83 counties.