What is the northern most reach of hog territory? I have heard of hogs in Washington but from what I read on the state wildlife site they aren't certain of any numbers. Does anybody know of hog populations closer to Montana than California or Texas.

In Europe, they range, during spring/summer, fairly far north. They are certainly in thick numbers in ark, tenn, and missouri.. i think even as far north as michigan
jeffe

Yes, we have a growing population in MI.

In 20 years we will have hogs from Mid BC well into Mexico. And almost from coast to coast.

Hogs are coming, maybe not today or tommorow but they are coming.

They are in Mexico and are coast to coast. All that remains is how far north will the go and to what elevations.

quote:

Originally posted by treg:
Yes, we have a growing population in MI.

I've been on a forum with michigan residents who have encountered hogs in the snow in northern michigan.

Oregon has an add requesting hunters shoot them on the spot and there is no tag or license requirements.

Oregon could be close enough. I work over in Spokane occasionally.

quote:

Originally posted by Ole Miss Guy:
They are in Mexico and are coast to coast. All that remains is how far north will the go and to what elevations.

They are not coast to coast. There are huge gaps in hog real estate.

No hogs in the Rockies, or the desert South West.

In the east hogs go from Florida to Texas and rarely in New Mexico then stop.

In the West they only penitrate California and Oregon with some hogs in SW Washington.

In the middle they are as far north as Michigan, but the Canadians are breeding them and there are I am sure groups of escapees in Alberta and Saskatwan.

They do not exhist on the Great Plains, in the Rockies or the Desert South West.

On our side of the pond they reach up to about 59 degrees N. That is roughly the same as the southern border of Yukon and NWT or central Hudson bay area in Canada. There is no difference between summer and winter habitats, the remain more-less in the same place. But our climate is probably considerably warmer and milder due to the Gulf Stream. They are pretty much swarming around here. But just 70-80km north is Finland where there aren´t any. I guess we are the northern limit for them.

Pric65,

They have piggies in Sweden too. You right the gulf stream keeps Estonia pretty toasty compared to Alaska and the Yukon.

quote:

in Alberta and Saskatwan

A collegue of mine's father in law has feral pigs on his farm near Peace River, North/central Alberta.

Apprently they don't do well in very cold/high snow fall winters but the population endures...

There are hogs in Colorado in the eastern part any way. They have been around Cheyenne Wells CO, they ate a milo test plot. They are into Barber County KS big time, Medicine Lodge. They are moving north more and more just give them time. Also some body will give a few a "ride north" in a trailer to help out in the move.

Actually they do quite well in the cold. I've hunted them in the high altitude mountains of Bosnia in the snow. They get a shaggy coat before winter strikes.

quote:

Originally posted by Pric65:
On our side of the pond they reach up to about 59 degrees N. That is roughly the same as the southern border of Yukon and NWT or central Hudson bay area in Canada. There is no difference between summer and winter habitats, the remain more-less in the same place. But our climate is probably considerably warmer and milder due to the Gulf Stream. They are pretty much swarming around here. But just 70-80km north is Finland where there aren´t any. I guess we are the northern limit for them.

Do remember that there are major climate differences between europe and north america.

NewYork, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are on the same latitude as SPAIN and PORTUGAL yet have a climate like the Netherlands, Denmark and north coast of Germany.

Europe gets the benefit of warm air from the gulf stream and africa.
Here in the Northeast US we get the Labrador current and winds from central canada.

And the climate gets colder as you move further inland.

But while the climate will slow them down it must be said that Hogs are as nearly as adaptable as humans and will go wherever they can find food.

AD

ND Game and Fish is trying VERY hard to eradicate the two populations here in ND that have sprung up in the last few years.