|
|
Cooperative Extension Service |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Agricultural
Experiment Station |
|
|
|
|
|
Arbor Day
Dale Bumpers College
|
Natural Resources
|
 |
| Figure 1. Like domesticated swine, feral hogs display a variety of coat colors as this Arkansas feral sow with piglets. Photo by Clint Turnage, USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services. |
 |
|
Figure 2. Feral hogs captured in a corral trap. Photo by Billy Higgenbotham, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Bugwood.org |
Feral hogs (Sus scrofa) are prevalent in many portions of the southeastern United States. Feral hogs are domesticated swine released accidently or purposefully for sport hunting. After a generation or two, the progeny of a domesticated hog will appear untamed, with thickened fur and tusks. Sows produce litters (average six piglets) starting at 6 months of age and have few predators after reaching maturity. Their feeding and wallowing behaviors create a number of problems, including agriculture crop loss, wildlife habitat loss, water pollution (e.g., sedimentation, transmission of E. coli), and disease transmission to livestock and in rare cases, people. Non-native feral hogs compete directly with native wildlife species for limited food supplies, disturb habitat, and consume small mammals and reptiles, the young of larger mammals (e.g., fawns), and eggs and young of ground-nesting birds (e.g., bobwhites, wild turkey).
Controlling the prolific feral hog has proven difficult. Feral hogs are very adaptive and learn to avoid hunters and traps. Hogs are very mobile, and will range for miles in search of food or mates. Most feral hogs are nocturnal, and therefore unseen. Signs of feral hogs are rooting, tracks, wallows, nests or beds, tree and post rubs. Shooting one or two feral hogs does little to control their numbers, and typically “educates” others in the group to avoid humans. Similarly, single traps of only one hog “educates” non-trapped hogs and does little to lower the population. Corral trapping, in which multiple hogs are captured at one time (Figure 2), can be very effective, although trapping requires a significant investment in equipment and commitment of the landowner. Trap-shy hogs soon reproduce, and problems return. Some professionals recommend hunting with dogs, which can be effective if hunters are trusted to kill all captured hogs and not release some for additional sport.
None of these control methods has proven 100% effective. Using several strategies, such as corral trapping followed by shooting and dog-hunting stragglers, may increase chances of success. USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services piloted a feral hog management program on public lands with cooperation from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. They reported, “experience and research has led us to conclude that population control efforts will not adequately address feral hog problems unless enforcement of existing laws and regulations successfully stop the translocation and trafficking now occurring” (Thurman Booth, State Director, Arkansas, personal communication, March 25, 2010).
Releasing hogs into the wild is illegal, according to Arkansas state law. Although small herds of feral hogs have lived in the state for generations, it is believed the current distribution of feral hogs in Arkansas is a direct result of hog releases by sport hunters. Natural dispersal of species progresses slowly, but the distribution of feral hogs is scattered, with concentrated populations occurring mostly on public lands. The National Feral Swine Mapping System is updated on a monthly basis using data collected from state wildlife agencies and USDA APHIS Wildlife Services. This distribution pattern suggests purposeful releases of feral hogs.
For more information on feral hogs:
|
© 2006 |
|
|
University of Arkansas • Division of Agriculture |
Mission
•
Disclaimer
•
EEO
•
|
