Kentucky Has a Serious Wild Pig Problem and One Obvious Solution Won’t Work

Like any other state, Kentucky has its fair share of issues with invasive species, from the worlds of both fauna and flora. When the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources isn't trying to curb the spread of, say, Japanese knotweed or poison hemlock. In that case, it's moving heaven and Earth to diminish or eradicate Asian carp or zebra mussel populations. The list of invasive or nuisance species is long.

Feral Pigs

But when I survey what the KDFWR is dealing with, one entry jumps off the page...wild pigs. They're common sights in places like Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, which have some of the worst feral pig problems in the country. Those three states alone deal with populations of at least 700,000 each. At the 3:40 mark in the following presentation from the University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, you'll see a map showing feral pig populations across the country. Clearly, they can adapt to just about any habitat.

Invasive Feral Pigs in Kentucky

While studying the information the KDFWR provides about what steps can be taken to curb or eliminate the feral pig population, I was surprised at what I saw at the top of the page...HUNTING DOES NOT WORK.

Feral Pig Solutions

Feral pigs reproduce at an alarming rate. That, coupled with the fact that any disturbance will make them scatter and become nocturnal, is a frustrating reason why, arguably, the most obvious answer is a non-starter. They're also intelligent creatures and can outsmart. The best bet is to report any sightings immediately so that they may be captured.

These porcine pests prey on eggs, steal food from squirrels, displace deer and turkey populations, and gobble up native amphibians and reptiles. And, of course, they are a villain of agriculture.

Kentucky's feral pig population stretches across the Commonwealth, from Land Between the Lakes to eastern Kentucky. So everyone's involved. And if you see even one, please call 1-800-858-1549.