Fall and Winter Diets of Feral Pigs in South Texas

Abstract

During late fall and winter of 1975-76 and 1976-77, contents of 41 stomachs were analyzed to determine foods of feral pigs in extreme southern Texas. Thirty-six food items were identified, including 32 plant taxa and four types of animal matter. Average volume for food classes were 55.8% forbs, 17.3% grasses, 9.8% sedges, 7.6% woody plants, 4.7% unknown plants, and 4.8% animal matter. Mossrose, an annual forb, was the most important item in the diet, comprising 21.8% of the total volume. Important differences occurred in the diet between years among forbs, grasses, and sedges. The 1975-76 diet was comprised of 41.1% forbs, 24.7% grasses, and 15.4% sedges, as compared to 73.0% forbs, 8.2% grasses, and 3.3% sedges in the 1976-77 diet. Our results indicated that feral pig diets could be competitive with those of livestock and wildlife. The pigs' extensive rooting may result in at least partial removal of many plant species from the range; however, these disturbed areas cause a shift in plant succession which is beneficial to some wildlife.