Knight speaks with BDN about feral livestock
Colt Knight, assistant professor with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine state livestock specialist, was interviewed by the Bangor Daily News for the article, “Feral livestock — hogs included — can cause massive environmental crop damage.” While there is no legal definition for feral livestock, it is generally accepted that any domesticated animal that can survive and reproduce on its own without human intervention has gone feral, according to the BDN. “One loose animal is not feral,” Knight said. “But once they can make it on their own, they are considered feral [and] that can happen within one generation from escape.” The two best examples of feral livestock in the United States, according to Knight, are swine and horses. Feral descendants of once domestic Eurasian boars that were introduced in the 1800s are causing major damage in New Hampshire and Vermont, according to federal wildlife officials. Although no populations of feral hogs have moved into Maine, Knight says it could just be a matter of time until they do. “The cold winters in Maine have helped keep them out so far,” he said. “But [hogs] are a remarkably adaptable animal and I would assume in time they will be here [and] when they arrive it will not take them long to become a serious issue in the state.”