Conservation and agriculture groups and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation have joined the Department of Conservation to provide more trapping equipment to the state’s feral hog strike team while educating the public about feral hogs.
“The number of requests MDC gets asking for help with feral hogs continues to increase as landowners become aware of the problem,” said agriculture liaison Brent Vandeloecht. “By collaborating with non-government organizations, MDC can increase funding for more traps to use on private and public land, and educate residents on the need to eradicate feral hogs.”
The total of funds raised equals $53,600 in cash and $23,000 in-kind, including costs incurred by organizations to produce feral hog media for public education.
The Conservation Department currently works with private landowners to set traps for feral hogs. Traps are moved from one private property to another after trapping success. However, Department employees noticed once a trap is active on a property, it’s more efficient to leave it in place until all hogs have been trapped. Additional trapping equipment will make this possible.
Partner organizations have provided resources for 65 traps and drop gates to be used on private and public lands, as well as funds for public education efforts on the dangers of feral hogs.
Partner organizations include the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, MFA, Missouri Pork Association, Missouri Agribusiness, Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Quality Deer Management Association, Quail Forever and Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.
Feral hogs are not wildlife; their numbers have grown into a serious threat, as their range has expanded from 17 to 38 states over the past 30 years, Vandeloecht said.
Populations of feral hogs grow rapidly because they breed any time of year and produce two litters of one to seven piglets every 12 to 15 months. Feral hogs are also known to carry diseases such as swine brucellosis, pseudorabies, trichinosis and leptospirosis which are a threat to agriculture and human health.
“Research shows about 70 percent of the feral hog population needs to be removed yearly to keep populations from increasing,” Vandeloecht explained. “We cannot achieve that without this partnership to increase equipment availability, and we won’t achieve that without continued education and cooperation with the public.”
For more information on feral hogs in Missouri visit mdc.mo.gov/feralhog.