Southeast Kansas farmers and ranchers are concerned about recent feral hog reports.

 

Earlier this week there were several reports of wild pigs, or feral hogs as far north as Garden Plain, Kansas. Garden Plain is about 15 miles straight west of Wichita on highway 400. According to K-State Research and Extension Wildlife Agent Adaren Scronce there have been some unconfirmed reports in SE Kansas. 

 

According to wildlife experts, feral hogs can be as expensive as they are prolific.  Total US damages are estimated at a minimum of $2.5 billion a year. It’s not just crops, they out-eat deer and turkey, as well as eat turkey eggs and even fawns. Each female can have a litter of between 4 and 10 piglets and can have two litters per year and begin to reproduce within 6 months of age. Scronce says if you see feral hogs call the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

 

Despite spending more than $100 million in federal money to stop them, an estimated 6 to 9 million feral swine plague landowners nationwide.