Domestic pigs are a familiar farm animal, but have you heard about wild pigs? These animals are destructive pests with voracious appetites and eat a wide variety of plants and animals. It's estimated wild pigs cause $1.5 billion in economic damage to agriculture and the environment in California every year!

Where Did They Come From?

Domestic pigs were released in California in 1769 to be raised for consumption. Some of these pigs were not recaptured and became feral. In the 1920's, Russian wild boars were brought to California for sport hunting. Since both types of pigs belong to the same species, they interbred. Their descendants are called wild pigs.

Why are They a Problem?

Male wild pigs can weigh...

Are you and your staff registered for one of UC IPM's hands-on, train-the-trainer workshops? Are you UC Master Gardener who would like more IPM training? If so, spaces are still available in both our January 24 and January 31 workshops. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about some important topics to better serve your clientele. Only $30 and includes breakfast, lunch, lots of training materials to take home, and great information!

Oakland Workshop, Jan. 24, 2017

Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 17, is the final day to register for the Oakland IPM Training for Retail Nurseries and Garden...

[From the December 2016 issue of the UC IPM Green Bulletin]

A new plant pathogen in the genus Phytophthora (pronounced Fie-TOF-ther-uh) has recently been found in several California native plant nurseries and habitat restoration sites. The pathogen, Phytophthora tentaculata, poses a risk of disease in wildlands, gardens and landscapes that use susceptible California native and non-native plants. Once introduced in these areas, the pathogen can generate disease for years to come, potentially causing lasting environmental and economic...