Legal Definitions - feral animal

A feral animal is an animal that was once domesticated by humans but has since escaped or been released and returned to a wild state, living and reproducing independently without direct human intervention. Unlike wild animals, which have never been domesticated, feral animals are descended from domesticated ancestors and have adapted to survive in a natural environment.

• Example 1: In an urban area, a colony of cats lives in an abandoned warehouse district. These cats are the offspring of pets that were either lost or abandoned, and they now hunt for food, find their own shelter, and reproduce without any human care or oversight.

  Explanation: These cats are considered feral because, despite their lineage from domesticated house cats, they have reverted to a wild existence, surviving independently of human assistance and exhibiting natural predatory behaviors.

• Example 2: A group of pigs, descended from livestock that escaped a farm several generations ago, roams a large forest area. They forage for roots and berries, build their own nests, and breed in the wild, occasionally venturing onto nearby agricultural fields to feed on crops.

  Explanation: These pigs are feral because their ancestors were domesticated farm animals, but they now live entirely in the wild, demonstrating self-sufficiency and a complete lack of reliance on human care.

• Example 3: Herds of wild horses roam vast, unfenced rangelands in the western United States. These horses are descendants of animals brought to the continent by European settlers centuries ago, which subsequently escaped or were released and established self-sustaining populations.

  Explanation: These horses are classified as feral because their origins trace back to domesticated stock, but they now live completely wild lives, free from human control or direct intervention in their survival and reproduction.