Not all pigs are equal, especially feral ones

Feral swine are in Northeast Oklahoma. In fact, according to newspaper reports, they are actually inside the city limits of Tulsa.

Tulsa resident Mark Swift who lives near the Gilcrease Museum said, "It just looked like a Rototiller gone crazy in my yard."

According to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture's Northeast District supervisor, Kenny Kellett feral hogs are multiplying faster than any other mammal in the United States. Only seven of Oklahoma’s 77 counties are without wild pigs

Speaking to the Grove Rotary Club, Kellett said there are one million feral hogs in Oklahoma. "They can produce two litters of four to 12 piglets every 12 to 15 months."

Pigs are not native to the United States. They were brought as domestic stock by European explorers and settlers. In the early 1900s, wild boars were introduced for hunting purposes. Interbreeding occurred between domestic pig and the wild boars.

Kellett says now these animals range from Florida along the southern coast to Texas. Wisconsin and California also have a large population. Kellett says that 70 percent of a herd must be removed each year just to keep the population from increasing. The hogs destroy millions of dollars of agricultural products annually as well as cemeteries and homeowner's lawns.

The hogs destroy the ecosystem they occupy by tearing up the land. They eat almost anything including the eggs of ground-nesting birds as well as killing young chickens and turkeys as well as livestock and deer. They also eat the food that sustains deer, possums, raccoons and squirrels.

They can also be dangerous as they weigh between 100 and 400 pounds and are very territorial. They also carry many diseases.

They spread diseases to other animals according to Kellett. Nose to nose contact with livestock and pets can result in death for the domestic animals. Kellett said he recommends not touching wild boards without using gloves. Diseases can also be transmitted to humans. Most slaughterhouses will not process feral hogs.

Hunting is allowed in Oklahoma. But Kellett says that it will not control the population. Since they are basically nocturnal animals it is also difficult to hunt them. He recommends trapping as the best solution.

According to the Oklahoma Wildlife Department, a trapped pig isn’t supposed to be released in Oklahoma unless radio-collared as a “Judas pig” for the purpose of finding and removing its entire “rounder” or group. The tagged pig must be released at the trap site within 24 hours of its capture, otherwise, the captor is considered the animal’s owner. Pigs trapped for “removal” can be killed or kept by the landowner.

There is no restriction on the method of taking of feral hogs on private property. Hunting wild pigs does not require a license, but if hunting during a deer, bear, elk or antelope season, a pig hunter must possess a filled or unfilled license for that season if hunting with shotgun slugs or any caliber larger than .22. Landowners may obtain a free hog control permit from the local game warden allowing them to harvest hogs during antelope, bear, deer and elk firearm seasons without purchasing the corresponding big-game license.

Those hunting boar with a bow, crossbow, spear or knife need a hunting license on public land. Dogs and knives cannot be used during deer, bear, elk or antelope seasons.