Wild hogs, officially classified as feral swine (Sus scrofa), are a non-native invasive species with an extensive and growing population across Oklahoma. They represent a significant ecological and economic threat, causing millions of dollars in damage annually to agriculture and natural resources. Oklahoma’s management efforts focus on aggressive population reduction due to the severe impacts these animals cause.
Mapping the Feral Swine Presence
Feral swine are found in virtually all 77 counties of Oklahoma. Although present statewide, the highest concentrations are typically in the southern and southeastern regions. These areas provide the dense cover, forested lands, and access to water along major river systems that feral swine prefer for habitat.
Their establishment began when domestic pigs, introduced by early European explorers and settlers, escaped and became feral. The population was further augmented by the introduction of Eurasian or Russian wild boars for sport hunting. This resulted in a hybrid population of highly adaptable animals.
The rapid growth in their numbers is due to their high reproductive rate and a lack of natural predators. A single sow can become sexually mature as early as six months of age and is capable of producing two litters each year, often containing between five and ten piglets. This high rate means the population can quickly rebound, even under aggressive removal efforts. Current estimates suggest the feral swine population in Oklahoma ranges between 600,000 and 1.5 million individuals.
Devastation to Land and Livestock
Feral swine cause damage to both the environment and agricultural production. One visible impact is “rooting,” where the animals use their snouts to dig up soil in search of food. This rooting destroys crops such as corn, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans, and severely damages pastures.
This foraging behavior disrupts the soil structure, leading to increased soil erosion and degraded land productivity. The swine also contaminate water sources through wallowing and defecation, which can elevate E. coli levels in streams and ponds. They compete directly with native species like deer and opossums for food resources.
Feral swine pose a direct threat to livestock through predation, especially targeting newborn calves, lambs, and goat kids. They are carriers for diseases that can spread to domestic animals and humans. These diseases include brucellosis, leptospirosis, and pseudorabies, which is found in approximately one-third of the population and can be fatal to dogs, cattle, and sheep. Losses from crop destruction and resource degradation in Oklahoma are estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars each year.
Legal Status and Control Methods
In Oklahoma, feral swine are legally classified as a non-native invasive species and a nuisance animal, not a game animal. The state’s official policy, outlined in the Feral Swine Control Act, is to pursue aggressive measures aimed at eradication. This status ensures the primary focus is on population reduction rather than conservation or sport hunting.
Landowners have broad permission to remove feral swine from their private property, often without needing a hunting license during daylight hours. To protect crops and livestock, landowners or their agents can engage in nuisance control day or night using any legal means. Specific restrictions apply only during deer gun seasons.
Various methods are employed for control, with professional trapping considered highly effective. Trappers often use large corral traps designed to capture entire groups of swine, known as sounders. The state regulates the live transport of feral swine, which must go to licensed facilities, providing an economic incentive for removal.
Other control techniques include shooting and hunting, which is permitted year-round on private land with the owner’s permission. State and federal agencies, such as USDA Wildlife Services, also assist with management, often employing aerial control methods. They use the Judas pig tagging system, which involves radio-collaring a captured swine and releasing it to locate the rest of its sounder for targeted removal.