While wild feral swine populations are no longer established in Indiana, residents should still be vigilant about their potential presence. Through aggressive eradication efforts, the state has eliminated them. However, isolated individuals or small groups may still appear, often due to movement from neighboring states or illegal releases. Public awareness and reporting are important to prevent re-establishment.
Understanding Feral Swine Presence
Feral swine are not native to Indiana. They first appeared in the state in the early 1990s, primarily from escaped domestic pigs or illegal releases. These animals are identifiable by their coarse hair, various coat colors, and average weight between 75 and 250 pounds, with males often possessing tusks.
Indiana currently has no established population of feral swine. The state’s goal is to remain “feral swine free” of breeding populations. The Indiana USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services monitors for new occurrences; a Eurasian feral swine was last reported in 2021. Any sightings, even of single animals, are concerning and do not indicate a naturally established wild population.
Impacts of Feral Swine
The presence of feral swine poses significant threats to agricultural and natural resources. In agricultural settings, these animals cause extensive damage by consuming and trampling crops like corn, wheat, melons, and pastures. Their rooting behavior can destroy fencing and leave fields uneven, making future cultivation difficult.
Environmentally, feral swine disrupt natural habitats through rooting and wallowing, which can lead to soil erosion, especially along streams and rivers. This behavior muddies water, reduces oxygen levels, and can negatively impact aquatic life. They also damage dikes and hinder forest restoration efforts through their disruptive habits.
Feral swine are known carriers of various diseases that can affect livestock and humans, including pseudorabies, brucellosis, and trichinosis. The transmission of these diseases can lead to significant economic losses for livestock producers and pose public health risks.
Beyond direct disease transmission, wild hogs compete with native wildlife, such as deer and wild turkeys, for food resources like acorns. They also prey on the nests, eggs, and young of ground-nesting birds and reptiles, displacing native species and altering ecosystems.
State Management and Public Reporting
Indiana employs a coordinated approach to prevent and manage feral swine, focusing on eradication rather than population management. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services, and the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) collaborate to monitor, trap, and remove these animals. Trapping is preferred over hunting, which can disperse hogs and make them harder to capture.
Prohibited Activities
State regulations prohibit:
- Importation
- Possession
- Sale
- Transport
- Bartering/trading
- Release of wild pigs
Landowner Guidelines
While landowners may shoot or trap a wild hog on their private property without a permit, the animal must be killed at the trap site or euthanized immediately. It is illegal to offer compensation for taking wild hogs or to release them into the wild.
Reporting Sightings
Public participation is important to keep Indiana free of feral swine. If a suspected feral hog is sighted, report its approximate location and number. Contact Indiana USDA-Wildlife Services at 855-386-0370 or the Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife at [email protected]. Report any illegal possession, importation, or release of wild hogs to DNR Law Enforcement at 1-800-TIP-IDNR. Do not approach or attempt to capture these animals.