Background
Feral hogs are a significant problem in the United States, they cause $1.5 Billion in damage every year. Hogs are omnivorous and move around in groups rooting around in the soil for roots and tubers or searching for plants and animals on the ground. They are able to quickly cause significant damage to agricultural lands or the ecosystem.
The distribution of feral swine is expanding in the United States and they are found in at least 20 counties in Virginia. Feral swine have no natural predators, are capable of breeding at 6 months of age and can have litters of up to 8 piglets. These characteristics mean that hog populations are quick to expand and move into new areas. Once feral swine become established they are very difficult to eradicate. Furthermore, evidence suggests that there have been purposeful movement of hogs into areas where they were not present. Not only is this activity illegal, but it is also irresponsible.
Management Options
Feral hogs are categorized as a nuisance species in Virginia. Given their potential for negative ecological and agricultural impacts, we suggest that every effort should be made to reduce the establishment and spread of hogs in the Commonwealth. This is a challenging task, hogs are smart and can reproduce quickly. To reduce a population, over 70% of adults in an area must be killed and they avoid areas where they have experienced hunting pressure. It is generally most effective to trap and euthanize hogs.
Trapping hogs can be accomplished by using several different methods.