Feral swine cause major damage to a wide range of resource types. Ongoing research indicates that costs from feral swine damage and control are an estimated $2.5 billion each year in the U.S. agricultural sector alone.

Resources damaged by feral swine:

• Agriculture like crops and livestock
• Property like golf courses and public parks
• Historic sites and even archeological artifacts
• Wetlands and waterways
• Delicate ecosystems and native wildlife habitat
• Human health and safety through vehicle collisions

Wildlife biologists and field specialists from APHIS Wildlife Services work to reduce feral swine damage. They provide technical assistance to landowners and land managers, as well as conduct targeted management activities, upon request, to eliminate or alleviate the damage feral swine cause.

The most successful feral swine damage management programs are comprehensive and use a variety of tactics in an integrated approach. When selecting a management method(s), wildlife biologists and field specialists consider the landscape and environmental conditions, feral swine behavior and density, as well as local regulations.

Common techniques for feral swine damage management include:

• whole sounder trapping
• fencing and fladry
• vaccination of livestock
• ground removal operations
• aerial removal operations

Nonlethal management techniques can be effective for limiting disease transmission, crop damage, and livestock loss. However, lethal techniques may be more effective in limiting population growth and achieving long-term suppression of feral swine damage.

Learn more about feral swine damage management and control techniques.