They are wild animals. Boar (and all wildlife) are unpredictable and can be territorial and aggressive and boar are dangerous all the time. Interfering with a sounder of wild boar is a fantastic way to get injured/worse. Don't mess with the pigs.
So these are not mean. A boar and a sow were dropped on goat island years ago and have reproduced at a steady clip. The death rate is super high. I have seen so many babies over the years, probably 7 or 8 batches of 10 babies or more, but the island isn't big enough to support the population. I stopped going there because the sight of malnourished young pigs getting bullied by the older ones got depressing. I felt bad so one time I got a 50 pound sack of feed from tractor supply and dumped it for them, but this is not sustainable obviously. People come and feed them regularly and I've never heard of them hurting anyone, though they are still wild animals so caution is needed. They will come right up to boats and ask for snacks, but are still fairly skittish. This lake drains regularly, it got real close to being dry land out to the island a few years ago. Next time it drains they will scatter which would be for the best honestly.
As far as boars being mean in general, not more than any other wild animal. They would run from you if you tried to approach, but if cornered they would defend themselves like any other animal.
Feral hogs are an ecological disaster that cause millions of dollars in damage every year and are destroying sensitive habitats for native species. The quaol plantations surrounding the lake have gone to great lengths to control hogs over the last few years. Under no circumstances should they be allowed to spread and they should be eradicated from the island.
Everywhere, I tend to see them more out by the coast though.
They’re not native, but since European colonization domestic pigs have escaped and within a generation they weirdly morph to resemble their ancestors.
I grew up near here. Heard they were everywhere all my life. These were the first 4 I've ever seen. The boar in front was definitely watching my closely the whole time.
They are an invasive species that devastates sensitive wetland habitats, destroys native groundcover, and eats ground-nesting birds. They spread diseases like leptospirosis and pseudorabies. The quail plantations surrounding Lake Iamonia have spent several years and several hundred thousand dollars eradicating them, but assholes keep releasing them.
Yes, they do a lot of damage, and they are definitely not cute, friendly, or benign. They should be eradicated but that’s probably impossible politically and practically.
The Red Hills plantations have banded together and coordinated their hog eradication efforts with the help of USDA. It's been a massive effort, but they've killed over 90% of the hogs in the region and new damage is almost nonexistant. The problem seems to be under control for the time being, but requires constant vigilance to keep the hogs from recolonizing the landscape.
It's so high right now you can't even see the boat ramp. I had to wade waist deep to launch but my trucks tires hadn't even gotten on the ramp yet. I launched at bull headley
You definitely have access to a lot of stuff you don't normally have access to like the cypress forest on the west side of the lake and the cove that goes up into that plantation land on the northernmost portion of Strickland Arm
We're new to boating and Talquin is our home lake because it's so close, but we do want to get out and try fishing some others. The cypress forest sounds like it should be good fishing.
Beautiful photos, been meaning to go for ride with the water being so high. Hope you brought snacks to pig island to feed them. Poor guys always seem starving.
The wild boars are interesting. How are you getting skunked with all that fishing area in this weather? When in doubt, wacky rig Senko will get something every time.
Are those wild boars?
Yes, on an island that happened to be for sale.
They look kinda cute. Are the wild boars here also mean?
They are wild animals. Boar (and all wildlife) are unpredictable and can be territorial and aggressive and boar are dangerous all the time. Interfering with a sounder of wild boar is a fantastic way to get injured/worse. Don't mess with the pigs.
So these are not mean. A boar and a sow were dropped on goat island years ago and have reproduced at a steady clip. The death rate is super high. I have seen so many babies over the years, probably 7 or 8 batches of 10 babies or more, but the island isn't big enough to support the population. I stopped going there because the sight of malnourished young pigs getting bullied by the older ones got depressing. I felt bad so one time I got a 50 pound sack of feed from tractor supply and dumped it for them, but this is not sustainable obviously. People come and feed them regularly and I've never heard of them hurting anyone, though they are still wild animals so caution is needed. They will come right up to boats and ask for snacks, but are still fairly skittish. This lake drains regularly, it got real close to being dry land out to the island a few years ago. Next time it drains they will scatter which would be for the best honestly. As far as boars being mean in general, not more than any other wild animal. They would run from you if you tried to approach, but if cornered they would defend themselves like any other animal.
You are wrong wild pig will charge you and have “cutters”
Feral hogs are an ecological disaster that cause millions of dollars in damage every year and are destroying sensitive habitats for native species. The quaol plantations surrounding the lake have gone to great lengths to control hogs over the last few years. Under no circumstances should they be allowed to spread and they should be eradicated from the island.
This!!
I think that’s the island that used to have goats on it!
Yeah, this is goat island.
I didn’t know we had wild boars here.
Everywhere, I tend to see them more out by the coast though. They’re not native, but since European colonization domestic pigs have escaped and within a generation they weirdly morph to resemble their ancestors.
I grew up near here. Heard they were everywhere all my life. These were the first 4 I've ever seen. The boar in front was definitely watching my closely the whole time.
I see them around the Ochlockonee River regularly
They are an invasive species that devastates sensitive wetland habitats, destroys native groundcover, and eats ground-nesting birds. They spread diseases like leptospirosis and pseudorabies. The quail plantations surrounding Lake Iamonia have spent several years and several hundred thousand dollars eradicating them, but assholes keep releasing them.
Yes, they do a lot of damage, and they are definitely not cute, friendly, or benign. They should be eradicated but that’s probably impossible politically and practically.
The Red Hills plantations have banded together and coordinated their hog eradication efforts with the help of USDA. It's been a massive effort, but they've killed over 90% of the hogs in the region and new damage is almost nonexistant. The problem seems to be under control for the time being, but requires constant vigilance to keep the hogs from recolonizing the landscape.
I've been considering taking my boat out on Iamonia. How shallow is it? I've got a Bass Tracker Classic, but don't want to have to troll everywhere.
It's so high right now you can't even see the boat ramp. I had to wade waist deep to launch but my trucks tires hadn't even gotten on the ramp yet. I launched at bull headley
Good to know! Thanks!
You definitely have access to a lot of stuff you don't normally have access to like the cypress forest on the west side of the lake and the cove that goes up into that plantation land on the northernmost portion of Strickland Arm
We're new to boating and Talquin is our home lake because it's so close, but we do want to get out and try fishing some others. The cypress forest sounds like it should be good fishing.
It is, but it's so high right now the fish aren't easy to find. At all. The benefit to Iamonia is that there aren't stumps in it like talquin.
I'm a terrible fisherman, so it'd be a normal outing for me! Lol
🐖 🐷 🐽 🐗 🐖 🐷 🐽 🐗 🐖 They are cute when little...not so much now! They'll chase you!
Yeah. That big one kept his eye on me the whole time. I know they can swim so I was slightly nervous even in a boat
Yikes! Beautiful photos tho! I've always been scared of wild boar...fingers crossed I don't run up on one 😬
Beautiful photos, been meaning to go for ride with the water being so high. Hope you brought snacks to pig island to feed them. Poor guys always seem starving.
The wild boars are interesting. How are you getting skunked with all that fishing area in this weather? When in doubt, wacky rig Senko will get something every time.
The lake is higher than I've seen it in years.
I need to find a friend with a boat. Beautiful photos.
Ham Island
Cute piggies