GOLDEN POND, Kentucky—A collection of government agencies plan to begin a larger campaign to reduce the number of feral swine at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area Jan. 21.
Partnering with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the USDA Forest Service will use aerial operations and bait trapping to euthanize feral swine at Land Between the Lakes. Feral swine are non-native and threaten visitor safety, cultural sites and native plant and wildlife species.
The combined efforts in 2025 will expand to include more helicopter flights and increased opportunities to search for and direct feral swine for wildlife specialists to shoot from the aircraft. The technique is an additional tool necessary to curb the feral swine population. APHIS works to trap the animals year-round with the help of sighting reports from visitors.
McCoy said feral swine are invasive but highly adaptive and can quickly outcompete native animals. “Feral hogs continue to pose a serious threat to the landscape, similar to the Asian carp and we are taking additional steps to make a greater impact on their numbers.”
APHIS began assisting the Forest Service with trapping in 2014 with success, but not at a rate that surpasses reproduction. In 2018, 70 feral swine were euthanized by APHIS. In 2024, that number grew to 736. Everyone involved hopes this trend continues to reduce feral swine impacts to the area.
Hunting is an important conservation activity widely valued in the culture and heritage of western Kentucky. Land Between the Lakes is however, seeking to fully eradicate feral swine to protect and conserve native game species such as white-tailed deer and turkey. Feral swine eradication is necessary for the conservation of native wildlife species. Wildlife experts all agree hunting feral swine is not the right approach at Land Between the Lakes. In 2024, Kentucky prohibited wild pig hunting in an effort to stop the illegal release and spread of wild pigs. Feral swine can only be taken on designated public areas in Tennessee and are illegal to possess, transport and release.
“Hunting wild pigs is counterproductive to agency eradication efforts,” said Terri Brunjes, Wildlife Biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “Wild pigs that are hunted disperse into new areas and become very difficult to find and remove.”
Feral swine are largely localized to the Tennessee portion of Land Between the Lakes, with some reported sightings north of the Kentucky border. The location of swine will dictate the daily operation areas. Visitors recreating should be aware of additional official vehicles and aircraft in areas of Land Between the Lakes for the remainder of the winter.
If you see feral hogs in Land Between the Lakes, please report them immediately using the form on our website: https://tinyurl.com/y5239k78