Feral swine eradication grants available
Have a feral hog problem? Few do not, but for landowners in 10 Louisiana parishes, there could be help through a federal grant to be part of a feral swine eradication and control pilot project through NRCS and APHIS.
Louisiana is one of 10 states that will participate in a feral swine eradication and control pilot project through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
"Feral swine alter ecosystems, cause physical damage, spread disease, and compete with native wildlife for important resources. They are also known to carry 30 diseases and 37 parasites some of which are transmissible to domestic animals, wildlife, and humans," according to an NRCS and APHIS press release. "The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 directs USDA to carry out the pilot program where the Secretary has determined that feral swine have been identified as such a threat. NRCS State Conservationists and APHIS State Directors, in coordination with State technical committees, have identified pilot projects which can be carried out within states with high feral swine densities."
Within Louisiana, 10 parishes in three priority areas of the state have been identified as having high feral swine densities and are established for initiation for the projects.
Area 1: Red River, Natchitoches, Winn, Grant and Rapides parishes.
Area 2: Madison, Tensas and Concordia parishes.
Area 3: Cameron and Calcasieu parishes.
Landowners looking to participate in the feral swine eradication pilot program have until Aug. 19 to submit a proposal following the certain guidelines and obtain a federal matching grant.
To find out more, landowners in the eligible parishes should contact the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts in their parish:
Calcasieu-Cameron — (337) 239-2193
Grant — (318) 627-3751
Madison — (318) 574-1883
Natchitoches — (318) 352-7100
Rapides — (318) 473-7967
Red River — (318) 932-4352
Tensas-Concordia — (318) 766-3502
Winn — (318) 628-4438
