Feral Hogs
Statement
Of the estimated 4 to 5 million feral hogs in the United States, approximately 2
million call Texas home. Feral hogs can be found in approximately 230 of our 254
counties and cause an estimated $52 million of damage to Texas agricultural enterprises
each year. However, feral hogs are causing an increasing amount of damage in suburban/urban
areas because of vehicle collisions and landscape damage.
Control techniques include shooting, trapping, snaring and the use of specially
trained dogs. There are no registered toxicants or other products that can be used
as toxicants to control feral hogs in the United States. For landowners, trapping
efficiently is one of the best means for controlling feral hogs. The use of larger
traps placed in areas adjacent to and upwind of where hogs spend their daytime hours
improves catch rates. Pre-baiting is essential meaning traps should not be set to
capture hogs until the hogs are regularly responding to bait and entering a trap.
Landowners may wish to recoup some of the damage losses or hog control costs by
either leasing hunting rights or selling live hogs to processors who pay for hogs
on a per pound basis. The Texas Animal Health Commission maintains a list of buying
stations located across the state that can purchase hogs from landowners. TAHC also
has several new regulations concerning holding and transporting feral hogs that
should be reviewed by those interested in selling feral swine.
Current Projects
The Texas AgriLife Extension Service is currently conducting a number of feral hog
abatement projects via a two year grant provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
The project is mainly designed to enhance and facilitate direct control measures
by Wildlife services personnel to remove hogs that potentially could cause disease
transmission to domestic swine herds or otherwise damage agricultural; enterprises
and urban landscapes. An additional component of this project is indirect control
via education. The abatement project will run through mid-2010. During and after
this special project, landowners can contact their county Extension agents or attend
various feral hogs programs conducted across the state to learn more about feral
hogs and their control.
Website
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why do we have so many feral hogs now?
A. Feral hogs were first introduced into Texas by the explorer Hernando de Soto
in the mid-1500's. However, it was not until the 1980's that populations of feral
swine literally exploded across the state. The huge increase occurred as result
of a "perfect storm": Many hogs were moved and re-released during this time to provide
a supplemental species for hunting as their popularity increased as a game animal.
Also, in Texas it is legal to supplementally feed wildlife and to that end, Texans
feed approximately 300 million pounds of corn alone to wildlife annually. Non-target
species such as feral hogs and raccoons benefit greatly from the increase in nutrition
this supplement provides and respond by producing more young with higher survival
rates. Feral hogs are also smart-inefficient attempts to control their numbers make
them wary and less susceptible to control measures and often result in the hogs
becoming nocturnal. Lastly, feral hogs have a tremendous intrinsic rate of increase.
Mature sows can have two litters per year and their female offspring can become
sexually mature at 6 to 8 months of age and therefore are capable of producing a
litter of their own before their first birthday!
Q. What is the best method to control feral hogs?
A. With current technology, we cannot hope to eradicate feral swine. However, applied
research projects have shown that we can effectively reduce the damage that feral
hogs cause. For most landowners, trapping using large traps, pre-baiting and varying
baits among traps that appeal to the feral hogs' keen sense of smell increase the
odds of trapping success.
Q. How do I contact landowners to hunt on lands being damaged by feral hogs?
A. Although the Texas AgriLife Extension Service does not maintain lists of landowners
offering hog hunting opportunities, Internet searches can provide a number of locations
offering hog hunting for a fee. Many landowners may already be leasing their lands
for the hunting of other species and therefore may be unwilling to allow access
to others. Ads placed in local newspapers may be an alternative method of identifying
landowners interested in hunter-provided control efforts.
Q. Can I catch a disease from feral hogs?
A. Feral hogs can carry a number of diseases, the most common being pseudorabies
and swine brucellosis. Of these two diseases, swine brucellosis warrants particular
concern because an infected hog can transmit the disease to humans. Hunters should
take precautions by wearing rubber or latex gloves and eyewear while field dressing
hogs and then thoroughly wash their hands and disinfect equipment used during that
process. It is impossible to simply look at a feral hog and determine if it carries
swine brucellosis, therefore better safe than sorry on all hogs field dressed! These
diseases cannot be transmitted by consuming feral pork but as is the case for domestic
pork products, thorough cooking is a must!