DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE R E S E A R C H & E X T E N S I O N UJA--University of Arkansas System Agriculture and Natural Resources FSA9106 Laws and Regulations Governing Feral Hogs in Arkansas Feral hogs (Sus scrofa) are hogs, though the virus does not affect Rebecca McPeake prevalent in many portions of the humans. In Arkansas, 90 percent Professor/Extension southeastern United States. Feral of all human Brucella suis­associated Specialist ­ Wildlife hogs are domesticated swine released illnesses from 2004­2011 have been accidently or purposefully for sport traced directly or indirectly to feral J. P. Fairhead hunting. After a generation or two, hog exposure, according to data from the progeny of a domesticated hog the United States Department of Wildlife Biologist, will start to develop different physical Agriculture (USDA). Arkansas Game and characteristics. Their fur may become Fish Commission darker and longer, and their snout Controlling the prolific feral hog may become more elongated. Starting has proven difficult. Feral hogs are Clint Turnage at six to ten months of age, sows very adaptive and learn to avoid produce litters with an average of hunters and traps. Hogs are very Wildlife Disease Biologist, USDA Animal and six piglets. Feral hogs Plant Health Inspection have few predators after reaching maturity Service, Wildlife Services (Figure 1). The feeding and wallowing behaviors of feral hogs create a number of problems, including agricultural crop loss, wildlife habi­ tat loss, water pollution (e.g., sedimentation) and disease transmis­ sion to livestock and sometimes people. Non­native feral hogs FIGURE 1. Like domesticated swine, feral hogs display compete directly with a variety of coat colors as this Arkansas feral sow native wildlife species with piglets. Photo by Clint Turnage, USDA­APHIS Wildlife Services for limited food sup­ plies, disturb habitat and consume mobile and will range for miles in small mammals and reptiles. Feral search of food and mates. Feral hogs hogs occasionally consume the young are active day or night. Often they of larger mammals [e.g., white­tailed live in heavily wooded areas and avoid deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns] human activity, and therefore can and eggs and young of ground­nesting remain unseen. Signs that feral hogs Arkansas Is birds [e.g., northern bobwhite (Colinus are in an area include rooting, tracks, Our Campus virginianus) and wild turkey (Melea­ wallows, nests or beds, and tree and gris gallopavo)]. Feral hogs can post rubs. Shooting one or two feral carry diseases like pseudorabies and hogs does little to control their num­ brucellosis and infect other animals bers and typically educates others in Visit our web site at: or people. Pseudorabies has been diag­ the group to avoid humans. Similarly, http://www.uaex.edu nosed in dogs trained to hunt feral trapping small numbers of hogs only University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture, and County Governments Cooperating The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, USDA­APHIS Wildlife Services, Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission, Arkansas Department of Agriculture, the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, and other agencies and organizations have partnered in an effort to educate the public and reduce the wild hog population in the state. Although small herds of feral hogs have lived in the state for generations, it is believed the current distribution of feral hogs is a direct result of releases by sport hunters. Natural dispersal of species typi­ cally progresses in a systematic manner, but isolated populations of feral hogs occur in Arkansas with some concentrations occurring on public lands. The Arkansas State Legislature passed Act 1104 to FIGURE 2. Feral hogs captured in a corral trap. reduce indiscriminate capture and relocation of feral Photo by Billy Higgenbotham, hogs, which went into effect in August 2013. The Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Bugwood.org original act has been revised several times since 2013, and therefore information presented here is subject to change. educates non­trapped hogs and does little to lower the population. Corral trapping, in which entire families of hogs are captured at one time (Figure 2), can be Governmental Entities Involved in very effective, although trapping requires an invest­ ment in equipment and a time commitment. Trap­shy Feral Hog Control hogs soon reproduce and problems return. Some In Arkansas, feral hogs are classified as “a public wildlife professionals recommend pursuing trap­shy nuisance” (A.C.A. § 2­38­501 through A.C.A. § 2­38­ hogs by strictly regulated hunting with dogs, which 504). State legislation allows property owners to con­ can be effective if supervised hunters kill every hog trol feral hogs on their property. Private landowners they encounter and release none for additional sport. may control feral hogs themselves, or allow others, with their permission, to use any method to control The use of dogs can be very effective, but only as a feral hogs. The Arkansas Livestock and Poultry supplement to enhance an intensive trap­based Commission is responsible for establishing and removal plan. enforcing regulations for feral hogs. Since feral hogs are not considered wildlife, the Arkansas Game and None of these control methods have proven Fish Commission does not regulate the harvest of 100 percent effective. Research to identify effective feral hogs, but allows anyone to take1 feral hogs while control measures is ongoing. Using several strategies, legally hunting other wildlife. such as corral trapping with strategically placed snares around the exterior, followed by shooting • The Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commis­ and dog­hunting stragglers, may increase chances sion is responsible for establishing and of success. enforcing regulations for domestic livestock, including feral hogs. According to their website The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection (http://alpc.arkansas.gov/), the Commission Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services conducts a feral has full authority for the control, suppression, hog management program on public lands with and eradication of livestock and poultry diseases cooperation from the Arkansas Game and Fish and pests. They administer the provisions of laws Commission. In 2010, they reported, “experience and regulations pertaining to livestock and poul­ and research has led us to conclude that population try. The Commission is authorized to enter into control efforts will not adequately address feral hog cooperative agreements with several federal problems unless enforcement of existing laws and agencies in matters relating to livestock and regulations successfully stops the translocation and poultry disease control programs. trafficking now occurring” (Thurman Booth, USDA 1The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Code Book of Wildlife Services – Arkansas state director, personal regulations defines “take” as “to shoot, kill, injure, trap, communication, March 25, 2010). net, snare, spear, catch, capture or reduce to possession.” • As outlined under Amendment 35 of the Arkansas Constitution, the Arkansas Game and Fish Controlling Feral Hogs on Commission is entrusted to preserve, manage Private and Public Lands and protect the wildlife resources and habitats of the state. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commis­ Private Lands sion is responsible for native wildlife (i.e., non­ Allowances for the control of feral hogs are made domesticated, free­ranging species) in the state. through the Arkansas State Legislature. On private Because feral hogs often inhabit wildlife manage­ land, feral hogs may be killed or trapped year­round, ment areas and are an invasive species under day or night, by a landowner or anyone who has the state law, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commis­ landowner’s permission. There is no limit to the num­ sion allows the incidental take of feral hogs while ber of feral hogs that can be harvested on private in legal pursuit of other wildlife. As a property land. Landowners and hunters do not need a hunting owner, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission license from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commis­ can dictate the terms and conditions for taking sion to take feral hogs on private land, but anyone feral hogs on Commission­owned and controlled who has a revoked hunting license is not allowed to lands, including Wildlife Management Areas. hunt feral hogs during the time of revocation. • The USDA­APHIS Wildlife Services is responsible • Piling or scattering bait, such as corn, to attract for providing federal leadership within states on hogs for trapping or other removal is legal on specific wildlife damage issues. In Arkansas, feral private land in accordance with wildlife baiting hogs are a priority species for wildlife damage laws in most of the state. However, baiting is management. Wildlife Services partners with illegal in the designated Chronic Wasting Disease other state and federal agencies to conduct feral Management Zone. At the time of publication, hog removal on public land and monitors feral these counties are Boone, Carroll, Johnson, hog diseases in the state. There are a limited Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Pope, number of Wildlife Services field personnel in Searcy and Yell. Baiting is allowed for nuisance Arkansas who cover a variety of wildlife damage wildlife control only with prior approval by the issues. Wildlife Services hopes to be able to offer Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Chief of on­site assistance on private lands for feral hog Wildlife Management. Contact the Arkansas control in the near future. They can also provide Game and Fish Commission to receive approval technical assistance to landowners over the for baiting feral hogs (800­364­4263). Bait may be telephone or through publications. used to hunt deer and elk on private land from September 1 to December 31. • The Arkansas State Legislature passes bills regarding feral hogs and their control. Those • Using a spotlight to shoot feral hogs on private Arkansas state laws relevant to feral hogs are land is permitted, but it is recommended contact­ A.C.A. § 2­38­501 through A.C.A.