Feral hogs (Sus scrofa), also known as wild pigs or wild boars, are a destructive invasive species in the United States. Descending from domestic pigs brought by early explorers and later from intentionally released Eurasian wild boar, their population has swelled to an estimated six million across more than 35 states. Managing these animals is necessary due to the severe environmental, agricultural, and health risks they pose.
Why Feral Hogs Require Control
The challenge in controlling feral hog populations stems from their high reproductive rate. Females can begin breeding as early as eight months of age, producing one to two litters every twelve to fifteen months. Because a local population can double in size in as little as four months, managers must remove 70 to 80 percent of the population annually just to prevent growth.
Their feeding behavior, known as rooting, causes extensive damage to agricultural land and natural ecosystems. Feral hogs use their snouts to turn over large areas of soil while searching for food, destroying crops and degrading pastureland. This rooting behavior leads to soil erosion and the contamination of water sources through wallowing and runoff.
Feral hogs also pose a threat as reservoirs for numerous diseases and parasites. They can carry over thirty diseases, including Pseudorabies and Swine Brucellosis, which are transmissible to livestock, pets, and humans. The presence of these diseases creates a risk for domestic swine herds and necessitates biosecurity measures for anyone handling the animals or their carcasses.
Preventing Access Through Exclusion
Exclusion fencing offers a non-lethal, preventative method to protect high-value areas like gardens, fields, and feed stations from feral hog damage. Because hogs prefer to go through or under barriers rather than jump them, a successful exclusion fence must be robust and secured tightly to the ground. Simple woven wire is often insufficient, as hogs will push under it if the bottom edge is loose.
The most effective exclusion designs use high-tensile wire mesh combined with electric fencing. A fence incorporating a lower electrified wire, placed approximately four to six inches off the ground, delivers a deterrent shock when a hog attempts to root underneath. For smaller areas like deer feeders, welded-panel exclosures that are 28 to 34 inches tall can exclude hogs while still allowing deer access.
Proper installation requires strong terminal posts and ensuring the fencing material is secured directly to the ground or buried a few inches to prevent rooting underneath. Any gates must be constructed with the same robust materials and secured tightly to the ground to eliminate weak points. While initial construction costs can be high, exclusion fencing often pays for itself by preventing recurring crop and property damage.
Strategies for Active Population Removal
Active population removal is necessary to reduce established feral hog numbers, and the most effective strategy combines trapping and shooting. Recreational hunting alone is ineffective for population control, as it typically removes only a small fraction of the group and makes surviving hogs warier. The goal of any sustained control effort should be the complete removal of the entire social group, known as a sounder, at one time.
Trapping for Whole Sounder Removal
Trapping is the most cost-effective method for removing large numbers of feral hogs simultaneously. The preferred design is a large, circular or square corral trap, which is superior to small box traps because it can capture an entire sounder. These corral systems use heavy-duty mesh panels and a specialized gate mechanism, such as a drop gate or a root-style gate, that ensures the entire group is enclosed once triggered.
Successful trapping relies on pre-baiting, where the trap is left open and baited for several days or weeks until the hogs become accustomed to entering it to feed. Commonly used baits include fermented corn or other grains that emit a strong aroma. Remote monitoring technology, such as cellular trail cameras, is necessary to confirm that the entire sounder has entered the trap before the gate is activated.
This conditioning process is important because feral hogs are intelligent and quickly become “trap-shy” if only a few individuals are caught or if the trap is prematurely sprung. By using remote monitoring and waiting for the last member of the sounder to enter, managers maximize the removal effort. Once the entire group is secured, they are humanely dispatched inside the trap, preventing the release of survivors back into the population.
Organized Shooting and Culling
Shooting, when conducted as an organized removal effort, serves as a follow-up tool to trapping or as the primary method where trapping is impractical. This method includes ground-based night shooting over bait piles and, where permitted, aerial gunning from helicopters. Organized culling is more effective than recreational hunting because it focuses on high-volume, systematic removal of as many animals as possible.
Night shooting is conducted using thermal or night-vision optics, which allow for accurate targeting of remaining individuals after a successful trap has been executed. Bait sites are maintained to draw in solitary boars or small groups that may have avoided the main trapping effort. Due to the feral hog’s thick hide and dense body structure, high-caliber, deep-penetrating ammunition is required to ensure a swift, ethical dispatch.
Aerial gunning, while expensive, can be an efficient method for population reduction over large, remote, or inaccessible areas. This method requires specialized permits and is performed by trained professionals. Whether shooting from the ground or the air, the goal is rapid, effective population reduction, which differs from the focus of a traditional hunter.
Safety, Handling, and Legal Requirements
Any feral hog control program must operate within state and local legal frameworks. It is necessary to check with the state wildlife management agency, such as the Department of Natural Resources or USDA APHIS, to understand specific regulations regarding removal methods. Many jurisdictions require permits for activities such as night hunting, trapping, or using certain technologies.
Regulations regarding the transport of live feral hogs are strict, as moving them contributes directly to their spread. In many states, it is illegal to transport a captured live feral hog, and they must be euthanized on site. Understanding these laws before setting a trap is necessary to ensure compliance and avoid contributing to the invasive species problem.
Handling the carcasses requires safety precautions due to the risk of zoonotic disease transmission, particularly Swine Brucellosis. Individuals must wear disposable rubber or latex gloves and eye protection when field dressing or handling the carcass to prevent direct contact with blood and other fluids. All tools and surfaces used for processing should be thoroughly cleaned with a disinfectant afterward.
For disposal, the primary options are burial, composting, or rendering, depending on local regulations and the number of animals removed. Carcasses must be disposed of away from water sources and in a manner that prevents scavengers from accessing them, which could spread disease. If the meat is intended for consumption, it must be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit to eliminate pathogens like Brucella suis.