Great Smoky Mountains battles invasive wild boar population over a century on

European wild boars that escaped a North Carolina ranch in 1912 continue to cause significant ecological damage in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Park management removes approximately 275 feral hogs each year to protect the park's fragile ecosystems. The problem is compounded by the boars interbreeding with domestic pigs, producing hybrid animals that further threaten native wildlife. Control measures currently in use include trapping, shooting, and strategic fencing. The invasive species has persisted for over a century, making it one of the park's longest-running wildlife management challenges.