While researching for this article, there seems to be quite a bit of debate on whether or not feral hogs are currently in Illinois.  Allow me to pipe in by saying yes, there are feral hogs in Illinois.  And, it is only a matter of time before they become a big problem!  

What makes me say this with such confidence?  Well, the fact that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has confirmed it and there have been multiple sightings across the state.  The picture attached was recently taken in Madison County, Illinois.

There is no official hunting season in Illinois for feral hogs, but the IDNR has stated that feral hogs should be killed on site.  In Illinois feral hogs have no legal protection, which means that landowners are free to take care of them via firearms and trapping, as long as they have a firearm owner’s identification card (FOID).  This is what the IDNR has stated on their online publication Outdoor Illinois:  “These animals have a high reproductive potential and populations must be reduced by 70 percent each year simply to keep them from expanding.  

Feral swine are harmful to wildlife and wildlife habitat in Illinois. They impact populations of reptiles and amphibians through direct predation and compete with white-tailed deer and turkeys for important food sources. They also destroy sensitive habitat areas through rooting and foraging. 

Feral swine damage the soil by wallowing, rooting and feeding. These activities increase soil erosion, degrade water quality and damage agricultural crops and sensitive natural habitats. 

Feral swine are known to carry numerous diseases and parasites that pose threats to pets, livestock, wildlife and people. 

Their nocturnal habits and adaptability make them impossible to control with hunting alone, thus an integrated wildlife damage management approach employing numerous tools and techniques is required.”

According to an article published through Prairie State Outddors “Feral swine have no predators except for man, and they breed at a dramatic rate. More than one litter a year is possible — with five to eight piglets per litter on average, according to a study by graduate student Black McCann of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.”  This reproduction rate is far superior to whitetail deer!  The article goes on to say “wildlife biologists are concerned about the hogs consuming mast crops like acorns, which now sustain deer, wild turkeys and other wildlife.  Feral swine also degrade habitats with rooting and wallowing.”

Having recently returned from a feral hog hunt in Texas, I began researching more into the topic and it is hard to fathom just how large of a plague these hogs are.  Studies have shown that feral hogs are doing over $800 million in agricultural damage annually in the United States.  

Gear up Illinois hunters, it is just a matter of time before Illinois joins the ranks of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama and others in having a major feral hog problem.

#Wired4Backstraps