The Cattleman November 2008 - The Feral Hog - An Unwanted Four-Legged Plow

Feral hog damage on a golf course

The Feral Hog – An Unwanted Four-Legged Plow

It is doubtful Texas and Oklahoma will ever be feral hog-free. The only achievable goal may be to seek control of their population growth and of their destructive ways. This will happen only through a partnership of private landowners and public agencies.

By ROBERT FEARS

"Last spring I found about 40 wild hogs grazing among the cattle in the oat field", says David Smitherman, who manages a cattle operation for his father J.C. Smitherman at Franklin. "So I ran those hogs out of there with my pickup," he continues, "and what did they do? They went over and rooted through the Tifton 85 bermuda I planted last year. The damage is so bad it will take a box blade to level the field."

Smitherman is not the only rancher frustrated with feral hogs. These animals are plowing ground with their long snouts in 233 of the 254 counties in Texas and 74 of the 77 counties in Oklahoma.

They are destroying crops, vineyards, lawns, golf courses, pastures and range. Texas alone had an estimated population of two million feral hogs two to three years ago which was 50 percent of the total U.S. feral hog population estimate. Undoubtedly, these numbers have grown even larger because feral hogs rapidly multiply.

"Feral hogs have become a serious threat to landowners and this problem will become much larger if something is not done quickly," says Warren Bluntzer, a wildlife biologist consultant who lives near Lometa. "Sows have large litters with few predators."

"Feral hogs are the most prolific large, wild mammal in North America," explains Larry Hysmith, Texas AgriLife Extension Service (TAES) wildlife and fisheries department. He says, "When feral sows receive adequate nutrition, they can double their population every four months. Breeding occurs throughout the year when conditions are favorable and seasonally when conditions vary.

"Females usually begin breeding at eight to 10 months, but can breed as early as six months when food is abundant. Sows can produce two litters every 12 to 15 months with an average litter size of four to eight piglets."

Hysmith continues, "Breeding is delayed and litter size is reduced during drought and food shortages, but populations recover quickly when conditions improve. Wild hogs have an average life expectancy of four to five years but may live up to eight years."

Controlling partners

Bluntzer feels the hog problem will be brought under control only by government and private landowners working together. "Feral hogs will never be eliminated," says Bluntzer. "However, we hope their numbers can be reduced and then maintained under an economic threshold by everyone doing their part. It will be necessary for feral hog control to remain a standard land management practice requiring constant effort."

Texas government took the initiative to get involved when the 79th Legislature awarded TAES and Texas Tech University $500,000 through the Texas Department of Agriculture to organize a pilot feral hog abatement program.

As stated in a TSCRA Daily News Update on May 5, 2008, the 2006/2007 project involved technical assistance to landowners at three sites and educational events statewide. Results of the pilot project were removal of more than 3,000 feral hogs, which saved landowners and agricultural producers nearly $3 million in losses.

As announced in the same TSCRA Update, the 80th Legislature appropriated an additional $1 million for hog abatement which was awarded by Texas Department of Agriculture to TAES.

Where did feral hogs come from?

Most historians agree that hogs were probably introduced into Texas by the Spanish explorers about 300 years ago. As Texas was colonized, hogs became an important source of meat and lard for settlers. With an increase of homesteads, hog numbers also increased, with many of them escaping into the wild.

During the 1930s, ranchers started importing Russian boars into Texas for hunting. Some of these hogs escaped from game ranches, became free ranging and bred with feral European hogs.

Feral hog behavior

Hysmith explains feral hog behavior. "Hogs are omnivorous in that they eat both plants and animals. They prefer acorns, but they also eat roots and invertebrates such as centipedes, leeches, earthworms and crayfish.

"They destroy crops and native vegetation by foraging, trampling and digging in soil for roots and insects. In short order, they can make a plot of ground look like it has been plowed, sometimes rooting to a depth of three feet," he describes.

"Feral hogs compete for food with many types of wildlife including white-tailed deer, javelina, turkey, bobcat, and various small mammals. They often deplete specific food sources that other wildlife depend upon for survival."

Hysmith says, "Extensive rooting of soil can cause serious erosion of riparian areas and springs, which lead to siltation, lower water quality, and sometimes fish kills. Rooting of soils can sometimes change the entire plant and animal community."

"The best way to control feral hogs is to identify their presence before they start doing a lot of damage," cautions Bluntzer. "If they are tearing up ground on your neighbors' property, you can bet they will get to you sooner or later. Feral hogs are largely nocturnal, so they are not often seen during daylight. It is important to watch for signs such as tracks along property lines, wallows, scat, and hair on fence wire and tree trunks. Control methods should be initiated as soon their presence is noticed."

In TAES Bulletin Number B-6149 Mark Mapston writes, "Feral hogs create wallows in moist areas so they can coat themselves with mud. The mud helps keep them cool and protects them against insects. When the mud dries they rub against hard surfaces to scratch their skin and to remove the mud, hair, and parasites.

"For rubs they use trees, fallen logs, fence posts, rocks, and utility poles. They particularly love utility poles because the preservative in the wood acts as an insecticide. Rubs on wooden surfaces or rocks are a good indication that feral hogs are present.

"Another indication of feral hog presence is their scat or droppings. Hog scat deteriorates quickly and as a result, it can be highly variable in appearance. Variability in appearance makes it hard to identify. Feral hog scat usually has the same shape and consistency of dog droppings."

Crafty creature hard to control

"Feral hog control is not as easy as it sounds," warns Bluntzer. "A feral hog is one of the most intelligent animals you will encounter. They have been able to survive in the wild because they have learned to adapt to their surroundings. Since they quickly figure out your control process, methods have to be constantly changed."

Bluntzer further explains, "Numerous control methods are available such as shooting from a helicopter or on the ground with or without dogs. Where brush is thick, I have shot them from stands and by stalking. Live traps can be effective as long as they are placed in the right locations and effective bait is used. Trap designs range from single animal to multi-animal enclosures. Plans for building both types of traps can be obtained from Texas AgriLife Extension Service Wildlife and Fisheries Department.

"Selection of control methods should be based on the type of site on which the problem is occurring, type and density of vegetation, terrain, number and size of hogs, and acceptable protocol." Bluntzer adds, "I have initiated feral hog control programs for several clients and in the process, I have used many different control methods. Where it is not possible to use firearms, traps probably offer the best solution. Multi-animal enclosures are preferred because once a hog is caught, it will attract others into the pen.

"A disadvantage of these traps is that they are relatively permanent and are not easily moved. Single-animal enclosures are more efficient when it is necessary to frequently change locations. A disadvantage of single-animal enclosures is other animals, such as deer, can easily enter. Regardless of the type of enclosure, it is important to place them in travel paths or in areas where hogs visit frequently," Bluntzer says.

"Multi-animal enclosures can be built with t-posts and livestock panels," explains Bluntzer. "These traps should be round without square corners. Otherwise one hog will herd the others into a corner, climb onto their backs and go over the top of the fence.

"It is very important to install one-way gates at entrances," he continues. "Otherwise hogs will enter the trap, feed and then leave. Once a few hogs are caught, the gate should be moved to a different side of the enclosure so they will not become wary of the trap.

"When working around traps, personnel should wear rubber or plastic gloves and foot-wear so human scent will be held to a minimum. If these precautions are not taken, it will become necessary to extend the trapping period in order to accomplish the task," he says.

"Regardless of the type of enclosure, it is usually necessary to begin baiting while the gate is wired open and continue until hogs become comfortable with entering and leaving. When range and pastures are in good condition or heavy mast is available, it takes longer to entice hogs into a trap. Patience is the key to successful hog trapping," says Bluntzer.

There are about as many different baits used as there are trappers. Options listed by Hysmith included soured corn, rags soaked in used oil or creosote, commercial estrogen baits sold by hunting supply stores, dead animals, and table scraps.

How the agencies view feral hogs

Feral hogs are classified by Texas Parks and Wildlife as unprotected, exotic, non-game animals. Therefore, they can be hunted or taken by other lawful means at any time of the year. There are no seasons or bag limits, but landowner permission is required.

It is stated in the 2007/2008 edition of Texas Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Annual, “A hunting license is not required to hunt depredating feral hogs if a landowner (resident or nonresident) or landowner's agent or lessee is taking feral hogs causing depredation on the landowner's land." If hogs are being hunted strictly for sport, a hunting license is required.

Texas Animal Health Commission's regulations do not allow feral hogs to be transported to other areas without first having them tested for brucellosis and psuedorabies. However, they can be transported directly to a slaughter facility without these tests. It is always important to check local and state hunting regulations before initiating a feral hog control program.

"Prior to May 2000, all hogs in Oklahoma were considered domestic and owned," reported Ken Gee of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. "To legally pursue feral hogs, permission from both the landowner and the hog owner was required. Failure to obtain hog-owner permission posed liability problems to hunters or persons who happened to take a stray domestic hog."

"After the 2000 legislation, feral hogs are no longer considered domestic animals. A feral hog is defined as any hog running at large whose owner is unknown. If a hog's owner is known, the hog is considered feral five days after escaping confinement. Hog owners can delay feral designation an additional 10 days by notifying adjacent landowners within the first five days."

A hunting license is required to hunt hogs in Oklahoma. The Noble Foundation reports, "Currently, Oklahoma laws regarding transportation of feral hogs within the state require blood tests for brucellosis on hogs six months of age or older only if there is a change of ownership. Domestic or feral hogs transported into Oklahoma are required to have a blood test for pseudorabies if they are under six months of age and for pseudorabies and brucellosis if they are six months of age or older. A veterinarian certificate and permit are required regardless of age." Again it is important to check local and state hunting regulations.

Landowners often initiate feral hog control with a lot of success for a few months. Then, whether control is being executed with firearms or traps, results go to zero but damage keeps occurring.

As Warren Bluntzer says, "Feral hogs are very cunning and are tremendously effective in avoiding capture or death. For a control program to work, their behavior has to be studied and tactics have to be constantly changed. Above all it takes a lot of persistence and patience to be successful."

Robert Fears is a free lance writer and land management consultant.

"The Feral Hog – An Unwanted Four-Legged Plow" is from the November 2008 issue of The Cattleman magazine.