Feral hogs are pests. They are not native to the United States and pose serious threats to Arkansas’s agriculture, natural resources, and public health. As an invasive species, feral hogs are destructive, aggressive, and increasingly widespread across the state.
Feral hogs cause extensive damage to farmland, forests, and native wildlife. They:
- Compete with native species for food and habitat
- Destroy land through rooting, wallowing, and trampling
- Prey on ground-nesting birds, eggs, fawns, and young livestock
- Carry more than 45 known diseases and parasites
Nationwide, feral hogs are responsible for more than $1.5 billion in agricultural and ecological damage annually, including:
- Over $800 million in crop loss
- Injury and disease transmission to livestock
- Habitat destruction and threats to native or endangered species
- Contamination of water and food sources
- Property damage
In Arkansas, feral hog populations continue to grow due to a lack of natural predators, with sightings reported in many parts of the state.
Statewide Response and Program
The Feral Hog Eradication Program, administered by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, provides leadership, coordination, and support for efforts to reduce feral hog populations across the state.
Arkansas Feral Hog Eradication Task Force
Established by the Arkansas General Assembly in 2017, the Feral Hog Eradication Task Force is co-led by the Department of Agriculture and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, with participation from 22 member organizations. The Task Force works to:
- Support control efforts through research and monitoring
- Develop and implement a statewide feral hog eradication plan
- Coordinate legislative, policy, and management strategies
- Promote education and outreach
Feral Hog Task Force Meeting Minutes
Resources
- View the Feral Hog Dashboard
- Feral Hog Airborne Eradication Permit Application
- Feral Hog Eradication Task Force Act
- Task Force Committee Members
- Report Feral Hogs via the Survey123 app
- Instructions for downloading the Survey123 app
Feral Hog Handbook
Arkansas Resources
- Fact Sheet: Feral Hogs are a Threat to Livestock Health
- Human Brucellosis Risk From Feral Swine, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
- Controlling Feral Hogs in Arkansas, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
- VIDEO: Arkansas Feral Hog Problem; Narrative with Rancher Bruce Jackson, from Arkansas Farm Bureau
- Hog Hunting and Shooting Regulations, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
- Arkansas Swine Regulations, Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission
- Carcass Disposal Regulations, Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission
- Do-It-Yourself Feral Hog Trapping Strategy, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Resources from Other States
- Coping with Feral Hogs, Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension
- Feral Hogs in Missouri, Missouri Department of Conservation
- Louisiana Feral Hog Resources, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries
- Wild Hog Regulations and Control, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
- Wild Pig Info, Mississippi State University Extension
National Resources
- Feral Wild Pigs: Potential Problems for Farmers and Hunters, USDA APHIS
- Feral Hogs and Agricultural Crops, by National Extension Resources
- Feral Swine – Methods for Managing Damage, by USDA APHIS
- Poison Baiting for Feral Pig Control in Australia
- Analysis of Scimetrics 2015 Field Efficacy “Study” (285.01 KB)
- Unleashing a New Tool to Stop an Unexpected Invader, Blog by USDA
News, Media Advisories, and Articles
- Arkansas Battles Feral Hog Invasion: A Timeline of Eradication Efforts
- “Is Kaput Kaput,” by The Wildlife Professional
- “Toxic Bait for Feral Hogs,” by Louisiana Sportsman
- “Turning Tail: There’s a War on Feral Hogs in Texas, and the Hogs Are Winning,” by Texas Observer
- Kaput Feral Hog Bait Briefing
- Letter to Louisiana Department of Ag and Forestry Regarding Kaput Feral Hog Bait
- Market Opens for Feral Hog Meat, Texas Farm Bureau
- Moore 2017 Swine CWD
- Potential Risks of Nine Rodenticides to Birds and Nontarget Mammals: a Comparative Approach