Feral hogs are an invasive species. They are the semi-wild decendents of domestic pigs that escaped or were set loose from farms.
Park staff are working to eradicate feral hogs from Chickasaw National Recreation Area due to their negative effects on the environment. These effects include, but are not limited to:
uproot and destory native plant species, such as milkweed, tree saplings, and indian blanket
disturb and destroy nests of ground-nesting birds such as quail, meadowlarks, and wild turkey
spread diseases such as boucellosis, swine influenza, and hepatitis
Feral hog eradification can be challenging due to their exceptional fertility rates, ability to travel long distances, and ability to run up to 30 mph. Park staff asks for your help. If you see a feral hog in the park, please report it. Make sure to include the location, time, and number of hogs. If you are interested in hunting hogs in the park, please visit our hunting page to learn about park hunting regulations.
