John J. Mayer asked to help with Hogzilla production

As a pig bomb spreads across America, one Aiken man is being called on for his expertise.

Distinguishing himself as one of the only researchers of wild boars in the world led longtime Aiken resident John J. Mayer to become the premier expert called upon repeatedly by National Geographic, the Discovery Channel of Canada, Fox News, the History Channel and the Discovery Channel as they explored such phenomena as Hogzilla, Monster Pig, Hog Kong and Son of Hogzilla.

In 2004, after more than 35 years of hands-on research of wild pigs, Mayer received a call from National Geographic Television and Film asking him to serve as an expert on "Explorer: Hogzilla." Hogzilla served as the first exceptionally large wild boar reported in the United States. Initial claims reported that the pig weighed 1,000 pounds and measured 12 feet in length. The pig was shot on a commercial fish farm in Alapaha, Ga., a town that has long claimed it grows the largest animals around. The photos and claims turned up a heated international debate that left people questioning the truth of the boar's size.

For the purposes of the program, Mayer and the National Geographic crew excavated Hogzilla about six months after it was initially buried in order to perform examinations, conduct research and to dispel the rumors circulating about the boar's size. Mayer conducted extensive research and determined the boar weighed around 800 pounds, reached 11¬½ feet in length and carried 18-inch tusks. The length of the tusks sets a new world record and the reality of the boar truly being wild was disputed.

As time progressed, hunters began reporting that they shot large wild boars around the country. Each time Mayer received a phone call from one of the television channels, he spoke with the producers, urging them to look deeper into the pig phenomenon and explore the concept of a pig bomb. He served as the key expert for the Discovery Channel of Canada's "Record Animal" program and the National Geographic Television and Film's "Hog Genius: The Amazing Pig," both of which aired in 2007.

This year he worked with Fox News on "Feral Pigs" and the History Channel's "Monster Quest: Mega Hogs." Each time the pig bomb theory surfaced and seemingly fell upon deaf ears. "I said to them the real story is not the monster pigs; it is the pig bomb going off in North America," recalled Mayer.

He explained the theory of the pig bomb: "In 1990 there were 19 states with a wild pig population maintaining a static number of one to two million for the past hundred or so years. Between 1990 and 2005, 40 states reported wild pig populations and three to six million nationwide. Something happened. Wild boars became the second most popular big game animal in North America. Michigan currently reports populations in 62 of its 82 counties where, in 1990, they had none in the state. There are now wild pigs in four Canadian provinces. Wild pigs are not native, all wild pigs have been introduced."

As far as the state of South Carolina is concerned, Mayer reports there are wild boars in all of the counties.

He continued to explain the pig bomb by discussing the major concerns related to the startling increase. The rapidly growing wild boar population is cause for concern as wild pigs become threats to crops and domestic livestock. They compete for resources with wildlife, they carry disease and they cause $36 million in vehicular damage in the United States annually. "Pigs are unique among domestic livestock in that they go wild quicker than anything else," said Mayer.

After telling producers over and over again, "the real story here is not the big dead pig," Mayer may have found an audience. Earlier this year, the Discovery Channel visited Aiken and filmed a segment on the pig bomb theory, which set to air at a future date since it is still in the post production phase.

For Mayer and other researchers, the main concern is how to control the unrelenting growth of wild boar populations throughout North America.

"They will eat anything; they are the ultimate survivor. At this time we don't have a good way to keep the population in check," said Mayer. "It has become such a problem in Michigan they have begun the Feral Hog Task Force."

Mayer does report that while wild boars pose a threat to wildlife, livestock and especially dogs, human attacks are rare with only three to five deaths reported annually worldwide.

"It is like a five-drawer file cabinet with legs and a head coming at you. The best thing to do is quietly back out, unprovoked attacks are rare. During sudden close encounters, they will defend themselves and are very capable of killing," he explained.

Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com

Breakout

The Pig Bomb

* Invasive wild pig populations remained constant for more than 100 years.

* In 1990 one to two million wild pigs were reported in the United States.

* In 2007 three to six million wild pigs were reported in the United States.

* In 1990 19 states reported wild pig populations.

* By 2007 only nine states have not reportd evidence of wild pig populations.

* Wild pigs maintain a higher reproductive rate than any other large animal.

* Wild pigs start reproducing at three months old and average two litters of six to 14 piglets per year.

* Wild pigs threaten livestock, crops and wildlife and spread disease.

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