Razorbacks, also referred to as an Old World swine, Eurasian wild boar, or Russian wild boar, are feral pigs that were brought to North America by the explorer Hernando de Soto during the mid-1550s. The animal evolved due to a system of farming known as free roam or free range farming, where domesticated animals were allowed to roam freely and are identified by a brand, or burned marking, on their hides. Many pigs were farmed this way yet many were lost. These lost pigs eventually made up the first razorback populations. This type of farming eventually declined because of space limitations and because of the desire to obtain hard fat, which can only be harvested from pigs on strict diets.

Appearance and traits

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Razorbacks vary in appearance from normal pigs in various ways. When razorbacks become feral, they grow thick wiry hair all over their bodies. They also grow tusks, which can measure several inches long, used for foraging and self-defense. Domesticated pigs also have these tusks but they are normally cut off or filed periodically for safety reasons. They usually are not as large as their domesticated counterparts since they must forage for food however they can grow as long as 8 to 9 feet and weigh in at almost half a ton. Razorbacks are omnivores and will eat virtually anything. They have acute senses of smell and hearing.

Sow, or female pigs usually have large litters when domesticated but razorbacks typically have 4-6 piglets per litter. Sows participate in group nursing, where one sow will watch and nurse several other sow's piglets as well as her own. So razorbacks are sometimes seen with a very large number of piglets.

Involvement with humans

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Razorbacks are considered a nuisance animal in many areas that they inhabit. Razorbacks destroy lands by foraging for food or making nesting areas. They are also responsible for the decline of many ground laying birds including quail, wild turkey, and killdeer because they eat the birds themselves and their eggs. Razorbacks also carry numerous types of diseases including swine brucellosis, pseudorabies, tuberculosis and hog cholera. Although some of these diseases can be transmitted to humans the main threat and worry is to that of livestock.

Razorbacks are also viewed as a chief game species in many parts of the United States. They are found in 19 states, mainly in the southeastern United States but extending up to the northeast and in part of the midwest. Texas has the largest population of razorbacks (referred to locally not as Razorbacks, but simply as 'feral hogs') which are sometimes confused with a similar species in the southwest, the javelina. Razorbacks are hunted for food, sport, and trophy. Sometimes the hunting can become famous as did the killing of Hogzilla. Hunting of razorbacks is encouraged in many areas due to their destructive nature. They tend to shy away from human contact but can become very dangerous if they are cornered, wounded, or with young and can injure and even kill humans and other animals.

The razorback is the mascot for many elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the southeast United States. It is probably most famously known as the mascot for the University of Arkansas's sports teams in Fayetteville, Arkansas, which is the only university or major sports team in the United States with a porcine mascot. Razorbacks are also the mascot of the West Sydney Razorbacks, which play in the National Basketball League (Australia). The razorback was also the mascot of the fictional Sunnydale High School on the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A 1984 film called Razorback features one of the animals terrorizing the Outback.

Pigs