Fairmount Park in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Ossabaw Island hog
Sus scrofa scrofa ossabaw island
Diet Roots and tubers in the winter, insects and crabs in spring and summer
Size A relatively small breed of pig, but males can weigh over 200 pounds.
Range Ossabaw Island off the coast of Georgia
Lifespan Over 20 years
Did you know? Hogs can be black, black and white, or red and tan.
Feast or Famine
Ossabaw Island has highly seasonal food availability, resulting in very limited food sources during spring. As an adaptation to these conditions, the hogs are able to store a large amount of fat during times of abundance that will carry them through times of scarcity.
Maintaining Balance
These hogs have been on Ossabaw Island, off the coast of Georgia, for over 500 years. As an introduced species, they have some negative impacts on the native ecology, and can be disruptive to loggerhead sea turtle and snowy plover nests. Ossabaw Island is managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in order to preserve the Island and maintain healthy populations of native species.
Erected by Philadelphia Zoo.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1500.
Location. 39° 58.385′
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Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 2017 Green Award Winner (a few steps from this marker); Domestic Goat Breeds (a few steps from this marker); Arapawa goat / Alpaca (a few steps from this marker); Domestic Sheep Breeds (within shouting distance of this marker); Pigeon Brainpower (within shouting distance of this marker); Galapagos tortoise (within shouting distance of this marker); Domestic Duck Breeds (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Diversity Makes All the Difference (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
Additional commentary.
1. About the marker
This sign serves as a historical marker because it interprets how the history of human activity, particularly the introduction of hogs, has affected the local environment of Ossabaw Island.
— Submitted April 6, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 117 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 6, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
