60 
BULLETIN 1061, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
RAZORBACK HOGS 
The native or " razorback " hog is one of the greatest enemies of 
young long-leaf pine. As an agent of destruction he probably holds 
next place to fire. In localities near settlements, where fires are in- 
frequent, the hog easily becomes the chief factor in preventing the 
reforestation of long leaf. (PL XVIII.) 
The piney-woods or razorback hog consumes large amounts of 
the seed or mast, but probably his chief offense springs from his 
fondness for the thick, succulent bark on the taproot and lateral 
roots of young long-leaf pines. In southeastern Texas the writer 
counted as many as fifty-two 2-year-old seedlings killed by hogs in 
1 square rod, a rate of 8,320 per acre. It is likely that in the course 
of one day a hog often destroys as many as 200 to> 400 young pines. 
Those from 2 to 5 years old probably suffer most, but not uncom- 
monly saplings up to 10 j^ears of age are killed. The spring season 
is the favorite time for attack, when the swamps are overflowed and 
food must be sought on the drier lauds. In stripping the bark from 
the roots, sometimes the tops are left intact or are bitten off at the 
Fig. 6. — Damage by " razorback*' bogs : A, Taproot stripped 8 inches ; B, Seedling with, 
top broken off ; C, Seedling pulled up and taproot 12 inches) long stripped of all roots 
surface of the ground, and at other times the plants are pulled out 
of the ground. (Fig. 6 and PL XIX.) With the drying and 
hardening of the soil, or the exhaustion of the supply of trees, the 
razorback's operations cease for the season. As a rule, a good 
stand of young longleaf can be completely destroyed in two to four 
seasons. 
Although the razorback is widely and generally distributed, es- 
pecially where stock laws are not enforced, the number of hogs 
present and the amount of damage accomplished appear to be vari- 
able, and, in spite of the hog, considerable young longleaf seems to 
get through the hog-danger period, only to go down in the losing 
battle with fires. Little damage, so far as known, has been reported 
from blooded hogs, and with the passage of State-wide stock laws 
and the bringing of large tracts of land under farm management, 
the necessity for finding means for preventing damage from native 
hogs is lessening. In getting young longleaf stands started a good 
degree of protection against this class of hogs, if they are present, is 
very essential for at least the first five years. 
