Pig Alert: State Officials Want You To Report Feral Swine

OLYMPIA, WA - State officials want local outdoors enthusiasts to be on the lookout for feral pigs, an invasive species that they say can wreak havoc on the ecosystem and are dangerous to humans.

If you're out hunting or hiking and see a wild pig you can call their "swine line" at 1-888-268-9219.

Although sightings of wild pigs in Washington are rare, officials estimate that there are about 7,000 in Oregon, and 70,000 in California, so they may be moving north. The wild pigs are blamed with causing about $1.5 billion in damage to crops, wildlife, and the environment.

The pigs originally came to the U.S. as domestic livestock from Europe and Asia . Some escaped and adapted to regional habitats. They like areas with lots of water and dense vegetation. There was a feral pig sighting on the Olympic Peninsula, but officials say that it's gone.

Be careful if you do spot one - male feral pigs have sharp horns and are aggressive. Wild pigs also carry diseases that can infect humans, including swine brucellosis, or undulant fever, and tuleremia.

To find out more about wild pigs and the state's reporting program, visit the Washington Invasive Species webpage.

Photo via Washington Invasive Species Council