LBL's annual feral hog campaign begins Monday

Beginning Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and partners will resume their annual campaign to reduce the number of feral hogs in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

In collaboration from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will use aerial operations and bait trapping to euthanize feral swine in LBL through February. Most of the operations will take place in the Tennessee portion of LBL.

APHIS began assisting the Forest Service with trapping in 2014 with success, but not at a rate that surpasses the swine's reproduction rate. In 2018, 70 feral swine were euthanized by APHIS. By 2024, that number grew to 736. In 2025, with a lengthened operational period, that number grew to 1,445.

This year's efforts will once again include the use of a helicopter equipped with infrared night vision to aid the search for feral swine and direct wildlife specialists to their location. APHIS also works to trap the animals year-round with the help of sighting reports from visitors.

Visitors should be aware of additional official vehicles and aircraft in Land Between the Lakes for the rest of the winter season.

Public hunting of feral hogs is illegal at Land Between the Lakes. Wildlife managers say recreational hog hunting can worsen problems by scattering the animals over even more territory.

Feral hogs damage property, agriculture, and natural resources by their aggressive rooting of soil in addition to their trampling and consumption of crops as part of their daily search for food. Their diet regularly includes ground-nesting bird eggs, reptiles, and amphibians.


(AP file photo)