Feral hog populations are growing and expanding in the Felicianas, the state and throughout the southeastern states. Hogs are becoming one of the most serious concerns for wildlife managers. They root up food plots, eat the corn at feeders, tear up hardwood stands looking for acorns and scare other wildlife away. Hogs also prey on young game animals, compete with native wildlife, carry diseases and pollute streams. Feral hogs damage forest regeneration and other agriculture crops like sugar cane, corn and rice.
At a recent LSU AgCenter seminar in Jackson, landowners learned about the biology of hogs, diseases they carry and hunting and trapping of feral hogs. Dr. Don Reed, LSU AgCenter extension wildlife specialist, discussed hog biology. Dr. Jim LaCour of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries talked about the diseases feral hogs can carry and spread. Mike Perot, wildlife biologist with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, discussed the state regulations and trapping techniques.
Dr. Reed explained that feral hogs are a result of domestic hogs that have been released or a hybrid of domestic hogs and introduced Russian boars. Feral hogs are adaptable to a wide range of habitats -- from piney woods to bottomland hardwoods and even marshlands. Their average size is 100 to 150 pounds, but they can reach over 400 pounds.
Feral hogs are the most prolific large, wild mammal in North America with the population able to double in four months. Sows breed throughout the year or seasonally beginning at eight to 10 months of age. They can produce two litters every 12 to 18 months with an average of four to eight piglets per litter. Older sows may have litters of 10 to 13.
Dr. LaCour described the many diseases hogs can carry and transmit to humans. Brucellosis is most dangerous, but also the most preventable, disease. The disease causes Undulant Fever in humans, which can result in fever, orchitis or oophoritis. Treatment can last for months, and the problems can re-occur at any time. The disease is contracted when butchering or handling the meat of feral hogs. The simple solution is to wear rubber or latex gloves when processing a hog or handling uncooked meat. Properly cooked meat is safe to eat.
Mr. Perot recommended trapping or shooting as the best control methods. There are several different types of traps that can be used. No matter which type you use, he recommended 1) pre-baiting an open trap to make sure the hogs are coming in, 2) use whole corn with strawberry jello sprinkled on top, 3) use WD-40 to mask human scent on the trap and to keep deer away, and 4) move traps around and be persistent.
Feral hogs are considered unregulated quadrupeds. They can be shot by anyone with a legal hunting license during legal daylight shooting hours year-round. But even all the trapping and shooting will not eradicate the feral hog problem. All the harassing does little more than chase them to your neighbor’s property.
Feral hogs are here to stay. So you might as well enjoy the sport of trapping or shooting them AND enjoy them at the supper table.