I've been told that domestic pigs are actually very likely to survive after they get loose. That's one of the reasons that they have become a major problem is because they are a VERY hardy animal that can survive just about any climate in the wild. Pigs are also very "smart" for an animal, supposedly smarter than dogs on average, which helps them adapt to a wild environment. From what I've read about wild pigs, most are actually a combination of feral domestic hogs and imported Russian hogs. The Russian breed was imported as a game animal from Europe (like pheasants), but the hogs are so hardy and breed so much that they soon got out of hand. Combine that with the fact that domestic hogs are also very hardy and will readily cross-breed, you've wind up with the major population problems that exist throughout the south. I guess the Iowa DNR has found a small population of wild hogs in southern Iowa and has issued basically a shoot-on-sight order. I don't even think you have to have a basic hunting license to shoot them. The DNR just wants you to call your local Game Warden to report the time/date/location of the kill so they can track where the hogs are spreading.

I wish I lived in a place where they were more plentiful. I'd love to be able to go out on the weekends and fill my freezer with basically free pork.

Mike