BEND — Feral swine may not come to mind when thinking of the most dangerous invasive species in Oregon, but the pigs can cause great damage to fish and wildlife habitat.

And one invasive species specialist calls the super-sized porkers "a walking disease factory."

The Bend Bulletin reports that the state has managed over the past decade to cut the population — through trapping and aerial hunting — from more than 3,000 to less than 200. The remaining swine roam in the vast wilderness of Central Oregon and open terrain along the California border.

Feral swine spread in Oregon mostly through people bringing in exotic European and Russian boars for private hunts.

Feral swine can start breeding as early as 6 months old, and produce at least two litters per year with up to 12 in a litter.

They can grow to nearly 300 pounds, and as omnivores they eat almost anything in their paths. They can eat small birds and young deer but also dig up roots in farmland and protected riparian areas.

Most of the damage is done during the night because they are nocturnal animals.

The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife displaces photographic evidence of the damage feral pigs can inflict on the land to help motivate people to take part in its "Squeal on Pigs" tattle-tale campaign.

In 2001, state lawmakers reclassified the pigs from livestock to predatory animals, allowing them to be hunted without regulation. Eight years later, the Legislature passed a law requiring landowners to notify state wildlife officials if they see feral swine on their property.

The state wildlife department calls its information campaign "Squeal on Pigs."

Besides the environmental damage, feral pigs also carry up to 40 separate diseases that are dangerous to humans and livestock.

Boatner said the Oregon population is relatively disease free, although one was found with swine flu, a respiratory disease in pigs that can spread to humans.

"Feral swine are a walking disease factory," Boatner said.

-- The Associated Press with information taken from the Bend Bulletin