Swarms of wild pigs in California developed blue flesh after ingesting pesticides containing rat poison — and officials warned other common game animals may also be infected.
The feral hogs in Monterey County were exposed to a type of pesticide bait containing the anticoagulant rodenticide Diphacinone, a type of rat poison that prevents blood clotting and forces internal bleeding, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said.
The swine could’ve accidentally consumed the pesticide via dyed bait or even other prey that might’ve already been infected with it.
The California wild pigs, a hybrid between domestic swine and feral boars, are omnivores that feed on anything from grass to other bits of animal matter, including mice, according to the CDFW.
Any animal, from the pigs to geese and even bears, could be infected, according to the CDFW.
