Coursey had earlier been contacted by wildlife biologist Jack Mayer of the Savannah River Site. Mayer, who holds a PhD in feral hog morphology, and played the lead consulting role in the National Geographic forensic investigation of the original Hogzilla, hoped to collect data on this boar.

"I am one of those people who finds wild pigs interesting from a purely scientific or natural history perspective," said Mayer.

By analyzing this hog's snout (above), ears, and cape, and making precise measurements of its skull, Mayer was able to determine the likely genetic origin of the hog (DNA samples were also sent to a laboratory for analysis).

Mayer sought to determine which of four known animal types - boar, feral hog, feral hog-boar hybrid, or domestic hog - this particular hog was.

Soon after Field & Stream contacted Mayer, we learned that his investigation was yielding "interesting" findings.

The story had taken a turn to the strange side ...