Wild pigs turning 'neon blue' in California trigger urgent health warning

California trappers were left astounded by wild pigs with bright blue flesh, prompting a stern warning from state officials.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) verified the strange sightings in Monterey County, attributing the electric-blue innards to lethal rat poison. "It's mental," expressed Dan Burton, head of Urban Trapping Wildlife Control, who first noticed the unusually colored pigs.

"This isn't a hint of blue; it's proper neon, blueberry blue," he shared with The Los Angeles Times. According to the CDFW, the pigs, discovered in March, had consumed a pesticide containing Diphacinone, an anticoagulant rodenticide that prevents blood clotting, leading to fatal internal bleeding. It comes as 'Zombie' squirrels covered in pus-oozing sores invade gardens as virus spreads.

The poison, typically dyed blue to indicate its toxicity, can turn animal flesh bright blue if they ingest the bait or feed on poisoned prey like mice. However, the agency cautions that not all tainted meat exhibits this distinctive color.

"Hunters should be aware that the meat of game animals, such as wild pig, deer, bear, and geese, might be contaminated if that game animal has been exposed to rodenticides," warned Dr. Ryan Bourbour, CDFW's pesticide investigations coordinator. "Rodenticide exposure can be a concern for non-target wildlife in areas where applications occur in close proximity to wildlife habitat."

The CDFW has urged anyone who encounters blue animals or other abnormalities not to consume any meat from them and to report the finding to the Wildlife Health Lab.

The pigs, a crossbreed of domestic swine and feral boars, are omnivores that will consume anything from grass to small animals, making them prime candidates for accidental poisoning. This is not the first instance of blue pigs appearing, as a user on the image sharing site Imgur posted pictures of a similar case in 2015, also connected to rodenticide.

A shocking 2018 study from the University of Nebraska discovered rat poison in 8% of wild pig tissue samples taken from areas near farms or homes where pesticides are prevalent. Even more alarming, a staggering 83% of bear samples tested positive for the same.

The CDFW has issued warnings about how these pesticides can infiltrate the food chain, beginning with aquatic life and progressing to predators such as pigs or bears. Given that wild pigs are found in 56 out of California's 58 counties, the risk is far-reaching.

The issue has even thrown a wrench into a $20 billion gas project in Monterey County, where herds of feral hogs are causing havoc. Officials are urging caution, warning that contaminated game could pose serious health risks.