The Feral Hog Population is Reaching Dangerous Numbers in This Alabama Town

Many people are not well-versed in the problem of feral hogs. While they’ve been reported in 35 states — more than half of the country — only four states have a significant infestation. Of those four, one southern state, in particular — Alabama — is home to more than 250,000 feral hogs.

What is a Feral Hog, Exactly?

Feral hogs are often called wild hogs despite one main difference. The root of the word “feral” implies the species was once domesticated. Therefore, many feral hogs originated from domesticated pigs that were either let go or escaped and evolved into the species of feral hogs we see today. Feral hogs will often have genetic DNA from both domestic pigs and wild boars, which explains how they assimilate in the wild once escaping.

The process behind how a hog becomes feral is a fascinating one because it can happen to any escaped animal. Pigs are already an incredibly intelligent species and while they can be fairly tame as domesticated animals, feral hogs are an entirely different story. Several months of living in the wild can turn a pig feral, and will also change its outward appearance, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The key physical differences on feral hogs include:

• Denser, more coarse hair
• Elongated tusks
• May grow a mane down their back
• Longer snout

Funny enough, the one thing that will remain the same for a feral pig after several months is its tail. That same curly Q will be a dead giveaway that that pig was once domesticated. However, with the reproduction rate of feral pigs being so high — up to three litters of piglets per year — it’s nearly impossible to trace one hog back to its previously domesticated origins.

A pig will also undergo psychological changes after being introduced to the wild. Whereas pigs are generally more docile, feral hogs are more aggressive, an attribute triggered by their newly discovered survival mode. This unpredictable nature is often exacerbated when a hog is with piglets or feels cornered or threatened. Therefore, they do present a problem when it comes to human interaction, and one Alabama town sees more of this than any other.

How Feral Hogs Were Introduced to Alabama

Historically, pigs were one of the first non-native species introduced to the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1493. These pigs were brought to the West Indies and made their way to America with help from Hernando De Soto in 1539. The hogs were transported first to Texas and then to Florida, which is likely why both states see some of the highest feral hog numbers to this day.

During the 1980s, catch-and-release was a method many people used to relocate feral hogs to other areas of the state. The reproduction rate of feral hogs is incredibly successful, which is what caused the species to grow exponentially. An adult hog can produce anywhere from four to 12 piglets, essentially keeping the species going indefinitely. While the population during this time was concentrated heavily around the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers, it now extends through the state with one small town being the most densely populated with feral hogs.

This Alabama Town is Overrun With Feral Hogs

Alabama’s feral hog population was at 255,000 as of 2022, and that number has only increased. And the highest concentration of feral hogs can be found in Butler, Alabama, located in Choctaw County.

Butler is a small town with a population of less than 2,000 residents as of 2023. The town itself is less than seven square miles, which makes a feral hog infestation all the more troublesome when considering the damage they can create.

Feral hogs can get into quite a bit of mischief which usually results in serious damage. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports $1.5 billion in damages nationwide, with Alabama estimating roughly $50 million in damages annually. Feral hogs will destroy anything from watersheds to farmland, including:

• Property
• Timber and tree farms
• Injuring livestock or native wildlife
• Crops and farmland
• Ecosystems
• Historic and cultural property

The hog’s lifestyle habits are partially to blame for this, as they’re not exactly the most graceful when it comes to coexisting with humans. The most destructive habit they have is “rooting,” which is where a hog will dig for food. They’ll eat practically anything, including tuber roots, plants, insects, and even small animals. While this variety in their diet is great for survival, it’s bad news for the other native wildlife who occupy the same area. Rooting causes competition, which disrupts the balance of Alabama’s already fragile ecosystem. Damage done by feral hogs can permanently change the landscape as well, which is already seen in Alabama’s reduced biodiversity and ecosystem disruption.

Rooting also causes severe damage to riverbeds, coastal areas, and farmlands. Digging up the ground puts stress on the land, which is challenging to reverse once the soil has been overturned. According to the USDA, re-establishing native flora can prove difficult once plants and saplings have been uprooted. Feral hogs can unintentionally contaminate freshwater sources as well, introducing new bacteria to an otherwise clean drinking source.

Since feral hogs prey on larger animals such as livestock, sheep, goats, and even deer, this close contact can further spread the diseases they carry, which include:

• Pseudorabies
• Cholera
• Brucellosis
• Anthrax
• Tuberculosis

Since 1996, there have been cases of pseudorabies and brucellosis have been found in tested feral hogs. For this reason, the state of Alabama recommends that owners of domestic pigs and other livestock keep their animals as far from feral pigs and their nesting grounds as possible. Since this is not always realistic, the state of Alabama, and specifically the town of Butler, has taken other drastic actions to control the species.

Hunting Feral Pigs in Butler

For hunters, Butler is practically a dream town. With so many feral pigs running loose, the town has implemented a “no bag limit,” which means that you can hunt for feral pigs year-round during the day. For those wanting to hunt at night, the USDA has allowed a nighttime feral swine permit that can be used from February 11 through October 1. The USDA also offers a baiting permit in addition, and when combined, hunters can go on feral hog hunts any time of the day or night, year-round, with the option to use bait to lure the hogs.

There is a catch, though. According to Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Director Chuck Sykes, of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, hunting is an ineffective method of controlling such a huge population of wild hogs. In an interview posted on Outdoor Alabama, the director explained that the best way to make a dent in the feral hog population is to catch them as a group. By corralling the sounder — or family of hogs — you can actively reduce the number of animals while ending the line of reproduction.

Additionally, the USDA is working on a solution to cut down the feral hog population that won’t interfere with the surrounding ecosystem. One solution that’s been proposed is bait mixed with sodium nitrite; however, this method has not been accepted widely throughout the state of Alabama.