Feral hogs are a destructive species which threaten the native wildlife and crop of the states they invade. Their omnivore diet and ability to adapt to environments give them an advantage over native species, and their high rate of reproduction puts residents and landowners at a disadvantage. The current estimated feral hog population in the United States is in the millions.

Two bills currently pending approval in the Louisiana House of Representatives aim to loosen the hunting regulations surrounding feral hog hunting, with the ultimate goal of reducing the escalating feral hog population in the state.

Rural Missouri is being plagued by a “dark force” according to one landowner: feral hogs.

Rural Ozark County landowner Mark Eisenmann told the Ozark County Times that feral hogs are overtaking the farmland in Ozark, leading landowners – fearful for both their safety and their crop – to join forces with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to “eradicate” feral hogs in the state.

Feral hogs have become an increasing problem in the United States in recent years, with population growth outpacing containment efforts. Texas, which has the largest feral hog population in the U.S., is home to nearly 2.6 million feral hogs, and the annual population growth is estimated at 21%. Other states such as Louisiana and South Carolina have also seen an uptick in feral hog population growth in recent years, prompting the creation of entities such as the South Carolina Wild Hog Task Force.

Hog hunting season is in full-swing in South Carolina. The state’s hunting laws, which allow hog hunting year around, coupled with night hog hunting season, which runs through July 1, allows hunting 24 hours a day.