For years, wild pigs have been viewed as one of the most destructive invasive animals in North America. They damage forests, farmland and property by digging through soil and searching for food. But a new study suggests their impact on forest ecosystems may be more complicated than previously believed.
Researchers studying forests in the eastern United States found that areas where feral pigs were present could have fewer invasive, non-native plant species than forests without the animals. The findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B , suggest that the same rooting behavior that makes wild pigs a major nuisance may also help suppress some invasive plants.
