Missouri conservation officials target feral hogs

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Conservation officials say Missouri is in the early stages of a population boom for feral hogs.

Conservation workers have removed about 400 feral hogs from Missouri so far this year. The workers are using trail cameras and fitting captured hogs with global positioning collars to learn more about where they go.

The Department of Conservation said feral hogs have established populations in 20 Missouri counties. The department is focusing its efforts in Iron, Reynolds and Wayne counties in the southeast and on public lands in west-central Missouri.

Feral hogs take food from wildlife, root up large tracts of forest and foul streams. They can also can pose a threat of disease in Missouri's pork industry.