Feral swine directly impact threatened and endangered species by preying on the nests,
eggs, and young of ground-nesting birds and reptiles. They actively hunt and consume
small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. They compete for important resources
such as food, water, and habitat, often displacing other wildlife. Additionally, wildlife are
vulnerable to many of the diseases and parasites feral swine carry. The most far-reaching
impact feral swine have on native wildlife is habitat change and destruction through
their rooting, wallowing, trampling, and feeding behaviors. Feral swine are ecosystem
engineers, which means they can change their environment by altering water quality
and runoff in wetlands, shifting plant composition and distribution in grasslands, and
decreasing tree diversity in forests. Feral swine have played a role in the decline of
nearly 300 native plants and animals in the United States; over 250 of these species are
threatened or endangered. U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)