Are Wild Pigs Safe to Eat?

Are Wild Pigs Safe to Eat?

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are found in nearly all Texas counties, and there are currently more wild pigs estimated in Texas than in any other U.S. state. Because the vast majority (>95%) of Texas lands are privately owned, the responsibility of wild pig control falls primarily on private landowners. Outreach efforts and resources to relay science-based information related to wild pig biology and management remain important components of fostering private lands stewardship.

What happens when part of a landowner's management practices bring them to ask: Are wild pigs safe to eat? 

Good question. We decided to get to right to the science with the Texas Animal Health Commission's Susan Culp and resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

Watch the video below to learn about the diseases wild pigs can carry, how and if you can identify disease and how to safely prepare and cook wild pig meat. 

 

 

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