Acorns, hickory nuts, beechnuts, and other hard mast are a major food source for wild boars, leaving very few to grow into new trees in areas with high pig populations.
Wild Pigs in the Forest
In the coastal plain region of the southeastern United States, pigs uproot longleaf pine seedlings and consume the soft roots which are rich in carbohydrates.
Wild pigs use saplings and even mature trees of both pines and hardwoods as scratching and scent marking posts.
The intense rubbing can damage bark layers, leaving the tree susceptible to harmful insects and pathogens.