Thousands of feral hogs killed in Missouri

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Conservation officials say more than 7,300 feral hogs have been killed in Missouri in the first nine months of the year.

The Springfield News-Leader reported the highest density of feral hogs is in the southeast part of the state. The Missouri Department of Conservation says crews there killed 3,849 feral pigs from January through September. Elsewhere, 2,358 were removed in the Ozark region, 823 in the southwest region, 186 in the St. Louis region, 116 in the Kansas City region and one in the northeast region.

The department said in a news release the highest densities of feral hogs occur south of Interstate 44, with very few feral hog sightings in the northern portion of the state. Conservation officials consider feral hogs to be an invasive species.

Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com