Feral Swine Management Program
The Natchitoches Soil and Water Conservation District has the most comprehensive feral swine management program of any district in Louisiana.
Aerial Gunning
The Natchitoches SWCD is the first District to implement a feral hog control program utilizing state of the art technology, aerial gunning and trapping. The aerial gunning program was started with a vision of freeing the local landowners of the feral hog. During the Aerial Gunning of 2018 the Natchitoches SWCD partnering with APHIS began gunning on February 12th, 2018 and concluded on February 19th, 2018. This gunning was conducted along the Red River Valley area of Natchitoches Parish. The Natchitoches SWCD enrolled 59 landowners in the aerial gunning program with over 47,000 acres. The Feral Swine aerial gunning program for 2021 removed 522 feral swine. The district encourages landowners who have traps and cameras to continue to monitor their feral swine population.
Trapping
The Natchitoches SWCD has state of the art remote operated cellular trapping systems throughout the year (based on availability), which is free to landowners who are enrolled in aerial gunning program. Another option available to landowners within the priority area is assistance from the APHIS Wildlife Trapper, which will further reduce hog damage.
Feral Hog Damage
Below you will find pictures of many different types of feral hog damage from crop land to urban.
Feral Hog damage on crop land after a period of only 3 days!
Outreach & Education
Attached you will find the State of Louisiana Feral Swine Regulation as issued by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. This form is provided to educate the landowner on the definition of Feral Swine, the transport of Feral Swine, the holding of Feral Swine, and the penalty for violating the regulations set forth by the governing body. Attached to these regulations is a transporter application and a Holding facility or Quarantine Sine Feedlot application. Click the button below to choose the form you would like to view, download or print. The Natchitoches Soil & Water Conservation District is not the regulator or enforcer of these laws but simply disseminate the information to the public.
JD Cox presenting at Feral Hog Workshop
frm left: NSWCD Board Vice-Chairman E.J. (ED) Giering, CRWC Administrator Betty Fuller, NSWCD District Planner Benny Dobson, NSWCD Board Member James Wagley
Benny Dobson NSWCD District Planner Presenting
NSWCD Feral Hog Workshop
NSWCD WRE Technician JD Cox giving instruction to NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Tanner Colbert on the operations of the drone
Earth Team Volunteer Tanner Colbert and JD Cox flying the district drone scouting for hog damage
NSWCD presented to the Lions Club L-R Mimi Stoker, Dr. Stoker, JD Cox, Benny Dobson, Emile Williams, Jr., front row- Brandy Hinds, Glenn Austin and Macey Canerday