Feral hogs causing problems in southeast MO, expert gives advice on prevention

CAPE GIRARDEAU Mo. (KBSI) – While the population of feral hogs may be decreasing, an expert reminds farmers that the animals are still out there, and gives advice out how to prevent their damage.

This invasive species is known to get on farmlands and dig up pastureland and crop, which can be detrimental to farmer’s work.

“Basically, we use everything we have at our disposal to get in there and help get rid of the hogs,” said Cooperative Feral Hog Outreach Educator Jerry Richards with the University of Missouri Extension.

He says because hogs breed quickly, both Missouri Department of Conservation and the county extension offices work together to keep the numbers down.

He says, “The best thing that we have is a program where we work together. We have farmers sign a form, which is called Form 12-A.”

Form 12-A gives his team permission to go on farms and trap hogs, or set up cameras to try and find them.

“We can also use a helicopter, to come in and do areal gunning and points. We use drones to scout the property,” he addsed

In the past year, their efforts got rid of close to 8,000 feral hogs.

“And we have over 600 new people who came on as landowners, who signed up to let us use their property, right now we have a ballpark figure of about 100 thousand acres we’ve got permission to get on people’s properties,” said Richards.

If you are having issues with feral hogs, you can visit the University of Missouri Extension website.