Sus scrofa
Much of the South, Texas, California, and Hawaii, and spreading. Rooted soil is often the first sign. Rounded split hoof, more blunt than deer, about 2 to 3.5 inches.
What does a feral hog look like?
Coarse hair, long snout, small eyes. Color varies from black to spotted.
What do feral hog tracks look like?
Blunter and rounder than deer. The two dewclaws sit out to the sides, not tight behind the hoof.
- Rounded split hoof, more blunt than deer, about 2 to 3.5 inches
- Dewclaws often print, set wider than the hoof
- Rooted ground: torn sod and turned soil
- Droppings are lumpy cords, not pellets
- Straight tail and a long snout if seen
What does feral hog poop look like?
Segmented, lumpy droppings, sometimes with acorns or crop. Not a pellet pile. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Much of the South, Texas, California, and Hawaii, and spreading. Rooted soil is often the first sign. Typical places: woods, wetland, field. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not handle droppings
- If the animal is injured or inside a building, call a local wildlife officer
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- White-tailed deer identification
- American black bear identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
How do you tell hog tracks from deer tracks?
Hog tracks are blunter, and the dewclaws splay out to the sides. Deer dewclaws sit behind the hoof and often do not print.
How to tell a feral hog from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- White-tailed deer. A walking deer places the hind foot nearly in the front track. Reddish-brown in summer, gray-brown in winter.
- American black bear. Five toes. Black or brown, rounded ears, no shoulder hump, straight nose.
Feral hog field marks
- Rounded split hoof, more blunt than deer, about 2 to 3.5 inches
- Dewclaws often print, set wider than the hoof
- Rooted ground: torn sod and turned soil
- Droppings are lumpy cords, not pellets
Where the sign shows up
Much of the South, Texas, California, and Hawaii, and spreading. Rooted soil is often the first sign. Typical places: woods, wetland, field. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
Blunter and rounder than deer. The two dewclaws sit out to the sides, not tight behind the hoof. Segmented, lumpy droppings, sometimes with acorns or crop. Not a pellet pile.
Common questions
How do you tell hog tracks from deer tracks?
Hog tracks are blunter, and the dewclaws splay out to the sides. Deer dewclaws sit behind the hoof and often do not print.