Source: AgriLife Today
With a proliferation of feral hogs in Texas, control measures such as trapping and hunting can yield the rewards of good table fare. However, feral hogs can carry parasites, such as hookworms, and experts advise to use safe cooking practices before consuming the meat.
“Feral hogs are destructive in nature and their daily patterns include both feeding and fighting,” said Dr. Tom Hairgrove, specialist in College Station. “They fight off other feral hogs in their daily activities of searching for food and can incur lesions or open wounds. This may create openings for parasites and lead to infections, discoloring the meat, etc. That’s why it’s good for those who process feral hogs to be on the lookout for any abnormalities and use safe practices when processing the meat.”
Though not an endemic problem, the bobcat tapeworm, Spirometra mansonide, can be found in both wild and domestic cats, according to experts. They are more prevalent in Gulf Coast areas and hosts, such as feral hogs, can come into contact by consuming contaminated water.
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