Feral hogs have become a problem

A relative of a well-known farm animal has become a troublesome part of Missouri's outdoors.

Feral hogs are scattered in population pockets across southern Missouri. If numbers of these free-roaming swine increase, the problems they cause will also become more widespread.

In wildlife classification, a "feral" animal is a wild creature that's descended from domestic stock. So, simply put, a feral hog is a wild pig that can be traced back to domestic ancestors.

A few feral hogs have been present in some Missouri counties since the days when those areas had open grazing lands.

However, the problem has become much worse in recent years. In some instances, hogs have escaped from enclosures; in others, they were intentionally released.

A number of Missouri's feral hogs have become crossed with Russian or European boar varieties.

These wild hogs are a threat to humans, agriculture and the state's natural resources.

For starters, they can be troublesome for farmers and landowners. Feral hogs do a substantial amount of rooting and wallowing. In doing so, they can cause much damage to crops and forest land and can contribute to soil erosion and stream siltation. Wild hogs can also transmit disease to domestic hogs.

It should be noted that feral hogs can also pass diseases on to humans through the handling of tissue from infected hogs. Feral hogs can also be aggressive toward humans; particularly sows that are protecting their young.

And, feral hogs are problematic in the wildlife world. They are efficient predators and will eat anything they catch or come across.

This list includes reptiles, amphibians, the offspring of ground-nesting birds and bird eggs. Their rooting and wallowing does extensive damage to streams and other types of wildlife habitats.

Missouri is trying to control the state's wild hog population through concentrated shooting and trapping efforts by state and federal employees. In this state, hunting for feral hogs by private citizens is discouraged.

This may seem like a contradiction, but there's good reason for this approach. Hunters who target feral hogs often unintentionally interfere with efforts to eradicate them. Weeks may be spent conditioning a group of hogs to come to a specific location so they can be eliminated in a single-control action. If, during that time, a hunter kills one or maybe two hogs, the rest of the group moves to a new area. This means the lengthy and expensive eradication process must begin again at a new location — often with hogs that are now warier of the methods being used against them.

Also, regions where hog hunting has been encouraged have witnessed an increase in the number of illegal hog releases into the wild. Thus, because the goal is to eliminate feral hogs, the Missouri Department of Conservation is trying to discourage the hog-hunting culture before it takes hold in this state.

Missouri is not alone in this approach.

In 1999, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency attempted to control the expansion of its wild hog population by opening a statewide wild hog season with no bag limit. However, it was during this time of unlimited hunting that biologists noted that Tennessee's wild hog population expanded the most.

Now the state no longer regards wild hogs as a game animal and is trying to eliminate wild hogs by methods other than hunting.

Although the Missouri Department of Conservation discourages anyone from hunting specifically for feral hogs, hunters in the field in search of other game are encouraged to shoot wild hogs when they are encountered. In this way, hunters can help eradicate this destructive pest.

To report feral hog sightings in this area, can call 417-895-6880, ext. 1642, or 573-449-3033. More information about feral hogs can be found at your nearest Missouri Department of Conservation office or at www.missouriconservation.org.

Francis Skalicky is media specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation's Southwest Region. For more information about conservation issues, call 417-895-6880.