How many different hog species in North America?

[STUMPJMPR]

The hogs we have here in Southern MS are usually black some are red and white.  Sometimes they will have a small ridge down their back.  I see picture's of hog hunts on the internet and they are beastly looking creatures with huge humps behind their head.  They are usually blond in color.  What kind of hogs are these?

[Graybeard]

One, they are all the same and came originally from European stock most NOT from Russia and so have no business being called Russian. Farmers have bred various hybrid types but they really all are the same species and given time enough will revert back to their origins and look more or less alike but it takes several generations for them to do so.

Hogs are hogs and all interbreed readily. Ultimately they are just hogs and to try and make them more or less is mostly just kidding yourself.

[STUMPJMPR]

Graybeard,

That is kind of what I have always thought.  It's just that their characteristics are so different from the ones here.  I assume from years of breeding certain traits have just came more prevalent in some locations.

[Land_Owner]

There are two (2) distinct species of feral American hogs:

DEAD ONES

                       and

LIVE ONES

[Swampman]

Here in north FL "domestic" hogs and cattle ran wild and were not kept up.  When you wanted one you just hunted it down.  In the mid-60s the wildlife folks at Eglin released some black "Russian Boars" captured near Telico, TN and they have since crossed with the feral hogs that were left when the government siezed the property.  Mostly ours are rusty colored with black spots.  There are 17 sub-species of hogs.  The true wild european hogs are very prehistoric looking.  Some hog hunting outfits claim to have them.  Many feral hogs are just hogs that have escaped someones feed lot.  A rounded rump is a sign of recent domestication.  European hogs are lower in the hind quarters.

[qajaq59]

Hogs are hogs and all interbreed readily. Ultimately they are just hogs and to try and make them more or less is mostly just kidding yourself.

It sounds good in the hog hunting guide ads though.........lol

[JeffG]

There are two (2) distinct species of feral American hogs:

DEAD ONES

                       and

LIVE ONES

The dead ones are substantially easier to skin and cook!!

[Dee]

Many, many, many, of these monster, (beastly in appearance) hogs posted on this site, are pen raised, EX-FERAL HOGS, that many times are casterated, game ranch hogs. Their monsters because of the castration, and plenty of FEED. The true ferals are much different in appearance and although there are the bigger ones, a 400 pounder is a big feral hog.

[hawkenman]

There is a very uniuqe hog here in Florida, I've killed two in the last twenty years and they are really scarce. The hoof of the hog is not split but solid like a horse or mule. I'm told they are the original stock brought over by the Spanish explorer DeSoto. These hogs were preferred becasue of less infection between the hoofs, they were normally kept in the in wet conditions throughout the ships travel. You can Google or go to Wikipedia and type in Mule Footed Hogs. There is also a mule footed hog association in Texas.

[SHOOTALL]

For what it is worth there are many stories of sailing ships traveling the East coast and  the bays and rivers leaving hogs on islands and in unpopulated areas in an effort to have food aval. on their return trip . Some of these trips took years . Most of the tales are of Spanish , French or English ships . It would seem the hogs may have come from them in some cases . Also in the Blue ridge mts hogs roamed free - some released some escaped into the wild . Seems hogs adapt quick and were the choice animal in both cases . The Vikings came befor the others , what did they bring ? Before that some crossed from Russia on foot did they bring any hogs ?

[docmagnum357]

There is a mule footed hog.  there is an association.If i remember right, there is a breed of danish land race hogs tha t  have thirteen rib bones, and a n extra vertabra(or two, I don't remember )  Some dogs have dew claws, some don't have much that way. Just another manifestation ofthe diversity and utility the creator built into his creation.  the extra long hogs have more money cuts, that is chops and bacon than a shorter stuffier hog. 
     During the early part of the twentieth century, glicerince, for explosives, and a lot of othe "chemicals were gotten from hog carcasses, and the same " breeds"  we see today are a lot longer and leaner.  hog breeders have adapted to a loin/chop bacon hog instead of a lard, sausage ham hog.  Nature does the same thing.  stronger necks, tusks, dark color, longer, stiffer hair, and lean red meat instead of almost white meat like grocery store pork.  you would be surprised a the difference in two hogs, one in confinement, the other wild.  Probably three generations of the same blood line, you wouldn't believe.  Add already wild blood.........by the way, the "wild ones go back to domestic fatties pretty quick, too.

[swordfish]

Well, now I'm hungry for a bacon sam-itch and chicharon. 

[Mack in N.C.]

yes to one poster///spanish hogs dont have a split hoof....some hogs in nc are spanish but most are split hoofed.....

[Mohawk]

Don't forget the meanest....... the ex-wife subspiecies.....

[hawkenman]

After about 28 years I finally caught a mule footed hog in a trap in an area known as Gulf Hammock FL, he was about 40lbs, and now he's  right at 150lbs. He has waddles that hang down from his neck. The purpose of these is unknown to me. The hog is a boar and is so affectionate that he likes the roof of his mouth scratched. He got out of his pen awhile back when we were out of town and met us in the driveway. I had to entice him back in to the pen with dongnuts. I plan to breed him with another feral hog in hopes some of the strain will produce.

[billy_56081]

All hogs come from the eurasian wild hog. Even our domestics are the product of selectivly breeding them.

[torpedoman]

The term "Root hog or die" came from the practice of turning hogs out to make it on their own in the mountains of Appalachia,It was a common practice and when fall came and you wanted a hog you just went out and shot one of them.You will also find many old muzzle loaders that have been cut down and are referred to as Hog rifles.

[mechanic]

I never thought it made too much difference.  All are pretty good to eat....and all, even domestic ones will eat you given the chance.  Just try grabbing a piglet from a sow and you'll know what I mean.....

Ben