The pig has feral populations all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand, the United States, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. In both Australia and the Americas, modern "wild" horses have come from domesticated horses brought by European explorers and settlers that escaped, spread, and thrived. While the horse was originally indigenous to North America, the wild ancestor died out at the end of the last Ice Age. There are truly "wild" horses that have never been tamed, most notably Przewalski's Horse. They are often referred to as " wild horses," but this is not correct. Other isolated feral populations exist, including the Chincoteague Pony and the Banker Horse. In Portugal, feral horses are called Sorraia in Australia, they are called Brumbies in the American west, they are called Mustangs. Horses and donkeys, domesticated about 5000 BCE, are feral in open grasslands worldwide ( see feral horse). Most free roaming cattle, however untamed, are valuable and are usually rounded up in closely settled regions. Such cattle are called Mavericks, Scrubbers or Cleanskins. There are small populations of semi-feral animals living the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Cattle, particularly those raised for beef, are often allowed to roam quite freely and have established long term independence in Australia, New Zealand and several Pacific Islands. Modern cattle, especially those raised on open range, are generally more docile, but when threatened can display aggression. Their ancestors, the Aurochs, were quite fierce. The Australian government encourages the hunting of feral water buffalo because of their large numbers.Ĭattle have been domesticated since the neolithic era, but can survive for months or even years with little or no supervision. Water buffalo are found in the wetter parts of Western and Northern Australia. However, in places where there are few predators, they get on well, for example in the case of the Soay sheep. Sheep are vulnerable to predation and injury, and do not usually survive as feral animals. Feral camels, descended from pack animals that escaped in the 19th and early 20th centuries, thrive in the Australian interior today. The dromedary camel, which has been domesticated for well over 3,000 years, will also readily go feral. The goat is one of the oldest domesticated animals, yet easily goes feral and does quite well on its own. More recently, the " Trap-Neuter-Return" method has been used as an alternate means of managing the feral cat population. In rural areas, feral cats are often shot. As feral cats breed quickly, it is difficult to control their populations. They have seriously damaged bird, reptile and mammal populations. Feral cats are pests in both rural and urban areas. However, sometimes feral species may control other problem species such as rodents, harmful insects, or aggressive plants.Įxamples of feral animals ĭogs can change to feral animals easily, becoming successful hunters. However, returning lost species to their environment can have the opposite effect, bringing damaged ecosystems back into balance. In some cases it has caused the extinction native species. The introduction of animals or plants to new areas may break down ecosystems. Other species usually do not usually survive in the wild. Some species go feral easily and successfully. However, the changes seen in plants that go wild is similar to those of animals. Some common examples of animals with feral populations are goats, cats, and pigs.ĭomesticated plants that revert to wild are usually known as escaped, introduced or naturalized rather than feral. For example, a lion which has escaped from a zoo is not a feral animal. Animals which were wild before they escaped from captivity are not regarded as feral. A feral organism is a plant or animal which has changed from being tame or cultivated to being wild.Ī feral animal is one which has escaped from a domestic or captive status and is living more or less as a wild animal.
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