The recreational and commercial importance of feral swine in Florida: Relevance to the possible introduction of African swine fever into the U.S.A.

Florida has the largest population of feral swine in the U.S.A. Feral swine have recreational and economic importance to hunters, trappers, taxidermists, and also to dealers who sell feral swine to hunting clubs. Hunters spent over 522 00 man-days hunting feral swine during the 1980–1981 hunting year. They killed nearly 103 000 hogs which they valued at over $58 each, for a total value of nearly $6 million. Trappers caught 25 000 head valued at about $ 700 000, and landowners collected about $1.2 million in hunting lease fees. Taxidermists received about $389 000 in gross income from mounting feral swine. Sales of feral swine to hunting clubs amounted to about $81 000.

Sales of feral swine through commercial livestock auctions were limited to 1620 head valued at only $16 800 in 1980. Thus, feral swine are important to Florida from a recreational standpoint, but not from the perspective of commercial agriculture.

If African swine fever were to enter Florida, there are many socio-economic factors associated with feral swine that must be carefully evaluated for eradication to be successful.