Don Molino (Louisiana Farm Bureau Agri-News Radio Network, Baton Rouge, LA) reports feral hogs have caused at least $30 million in damages to crops on Louisiana farms just in the past two years, according to a study by the Louisiana State University AgCenter. Shaun Tanger, LSU AgCenter economist, has been gathering data for more than a year from Louisiana farmers about hog activity and damage, which ranges from rooting up and eating crops to damaging farm equipment. Don adds, “Feral hogs can also spread fatal diseases to wildlife and livestock.” The 2013 Louisiana soybean crop suffered more than $9 million in hog damage, hay producers lost about $7 million, while the rice and corn industries both saw about $5 million in damage. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are about 6 million feral hogs living in at least 41 states with California, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas having some of the largest populations. Louisiana’s feral hog population has been estimated at 500,000 with hotspots in the south central and northeastern parts of the state.

Tanger says up to 75 percent of feral hogs would have to be eliminated just to maintain current population. Don emphasizes, “If feral hog populations continue to grow so rapidly, they are likely to move into suburban areas and that will lead to dangerous human-hog encounters. The most effective way to control feral hogs is trapping and killing them.” He adds that LSU AgCenter scientists have been studying alternatives, including sodium nitrite-based bait that would kill their reproductive system and provide birth control for feral hogs. Adult feral hogs can weigh several hundred pounds.