Beasts of Burden: Arkansas's Feral Hogs

Hemp is Happening

Addressing the State’s Feral Hog Issues is a Serious Challenge

Feral hogs are a threat to agriculture, forestlands, wildlife, waterways, and human health. Damages estimates approach $1.5 billion annually to the U.S. and approximately $19 million in Arkansas. Feral hogs have been found in every county in Arkansas, and the damage they cause continues to grow as they increasingly find their way onto golf courses, athletic fields, and public parks in urban areas. Arkansas took a huge step in its efforts to address the destruction caused by feral hogs when the Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Department) hired J.P. Fairhead, the state’s first full-time employee to concentrate 100 percent on eradicating feral hogs. One of Fairhead’s primary tasks will be implementing the new $3.4 million grant recently awarded to the Department through the USDA Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program. “J.P. brings extensive knowledge of statewide feral hog control activities to the Department,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “We look forward to putting J.P.’s expertise to work as we implement the new feral hog eradication program in project areas across the state,” said Ward. Fairhead previously worked for the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission as a Natural Resource Program Technician and Field Biologist, taking on the additional duty of serving as the Feral Hog Eradication Program Coordinator for the Game and Fish Commission in 2013. He has been involved with the Arkansas Feral Hog Eradication Task Force since its launch in 2017, serving on the Management and Control Subcommittee. “I look forward to addressing the unique challenges associated with controlling this prolific, destructive, invasive species by partnering with multiple agencies to implement effective control measures,” said Fairhead. “Addressing the feral hog issue will not be a quick fix, but I believe we can make positive strides to reduce damages if we focus on working together to remove these invasive pests.”

The Arkansas Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program will involve extensive collaboration between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS Wildlife Services), Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, local/individual soil and water conservation districts, the Department’s Natural Resources Division, and others. The pilot program consists of four project areas including 22 total counties. Each project area is comprised of tier one and tier two counties, with initial efforts beginning in tier one counties with subsequent efforts planned to move into the tier two counties in successive years after removal efforts and damage assessments, have been evaluated. The initial tier one counties include: Arkansas, Ashley, Drew, Hempstead, Howard, Sevier, Baxter, Izard, Marion, Logan, Sebastian, and Yell counties. The pilot program grants funds will be used to hire ten conservation district technicians, and purchase needed equipment, within the tier one counties. The district technicians will assist and provide existing USDA APHIS Wildlife Services personnel with feral swine removal efforts to private landowners. USDA APHIS Wildlife Services also intends to hire one additional technician within each project area. Educational and outreach components of the project may include landowner workshops, field days, demonstrations and damage assessments, “We can make positive strides to reduce damages if we focus on working together to remove these invasive pests.”

Landowners who need assistance with feral hogs on their property should contact USDA APHIS Wildlife Services State Office at (501) 835-2318 for more information.

Additional resources regarding feral hogs, including information about the Arkansas Feral Hog Eradication Task Force as well as hog sighting and removal reporting tools, can be found online at: agriculture.arkansas.gov/feral-hog-eradicationtask-force.

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