Community Corner

No Decline Reported For Feral Hog Population In Alabama

Reports from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shows no decline in the state's feral hog population.

Once in possession, feral hogs cannot be transported and must be dispatched.
Once in possession, feral hogs cannot be transported and must be dispatched. (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources)

MONTGOMERY, AL — Despite efforts to mitigate the impact of feral hogs in Alabama, the hog population shows no indication of decline, according to a report by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

"Unfortunately, it appears their numbers are continuing to increase," said Matt Brock, Technical Assistance Wildlife Biologist with the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. "I’m basing that on talking to people and on reports from areas that haven’t had hogs before."

Brock also bases that theory on the number of feral hogs harvested by hunters during the 2019-2020 season. That total exceeded the number of white-tailed deer taken during the same period. According to the WFF’s annual hunter survey, it was estimated that about 218,000 deer were harvested. The number of feral hogs taken was estimated at about 255,000.

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Brock said as part of the Farm Bill passed by Congress, a large, comprehensive program is underway in Alabama to try to stop the spread of feral hogs, particularly in areas of heavy agriculture. The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is conducting pilot projects in the Alabama Black Belt, the Wiregrass and on the Alabama Gulf Coast.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, feral hogs cause more than $1.5 billion in damages to property, agricultural interests (crops and livestock), native wildlife and ecosystems as well as cultural and historic resources.

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One of the problems with feral hogs is the invasive species’ ability to rapidly reproduce. Brock said a typical litter is four to eight piglets, but he has heard of litters as large as 14. Some feral hogs can reach sexual maturity at six months. The gestation period is about 112 to 115 days.

"The sows will generally be close to weaning their litter before being bred again," he said. "In theory, sows can have three litters every 14 months. Most of the time, they have one or two litters a year. Another thing is the piglets have a very high survival rate. They have very few predators because momma can be pretty aggressive toward anything that messes with her little ones."

Brock said the bulk of today’s feral swine population in Alabama originated from hogs brought to America in the Mobile area by the Spanish in the early 1500s. He said he has seen some indication that some areas have hybrid stock that includes Eurasian wild boar characteristics.

A report from David Rainer of the ADCNR said harvest numbers show that hunters remove quite a few hogs annually from the landscape, but hunting has proven to be ineffective at reducing total numbers of hogs.


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