In the lush landscapes of Georgia, a relentless battle wages against the invasive, highly damaging feral swine. These descendants of domestic pigs, now wide-spread and invasive, pose a significant threat to agriculture, natural habitats, and local economies. Amid the challenges posed by these destructive creatures, a coalition of conservation districts, governmental bodies, and research institutions is rising to the occasion, employing innovative strategies to manage and mitigate the impact of feral swine across the state.

The Georgia districts began this work in earnest in 2017 when the Brier Creek Conservation District, under the leadership of Chair Tom Mims, initiated a program to address the escalating feral swine population within its jurisdiction. By equipping local Hog Control Custodians (HCC) with trapping equipment and offering targeted eradication services, the district aimed to assist distressed landowners and producers. The success of this program inspired a statewide effort, spearheaded by Mims, who now serves as the Chair of the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) Feral Swine Committee. (Read more)

Presently, over 20 districts across the state are implementing similar control services, resulting in an estimated $5.5 million in property damage savings for affected landowners.

Combating feral swine extends beyond eradication efforts alone; it requires a comprehensive understanding of the ecosystems they disrupt and the broader economic implications of their presence. Ongoing research projects, such as the Albany Area pilot initiative, exemplify this multi-faceted approach. This collaborative effort between the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, Jones Center at Ichauway, and the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources spans 25,000 acres in Calhoun County, Georgia. Utilizing advanced technologies like passive camera traps and unmanned aerial systems, researchers are gaining valuable insights into wild pig behavior and damage patterns. (Read more)

Within these strides in feral swine management, a critical link emerges between their presence and the preservation of Georgia’s iconic longleaf pine forests. Longleaf pine ecosystems, once sprawling across more than 90 million acres of the North American landscape, now occupy a mere three percent of their former range. Within these dwindling remnants lie some of the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystems, providing vital habitat for countless plant and animal species, including 29 threatened and endangered species. (Read more)

The Forest Stewardship Program aims to sustain quality native timber, wildlife, soil, water resources, aesthetics, and recreation over a 10-year planning period. The program emphasizes the integration of these objectives and provides technical guidance for landowners looking to establish new longleaf pine forests using artificial planting or natural regeneration methods. Longleaf pine, known for high-quality timber and ecological diversity when managed with fire, once covered 92 million acres in the Southeast US, but only 3% remains. Georgia has seen a significant decline in longleaf pine forests due to land use changes, overharvesting, and insufficient restoration efforts. (Read more)

The decline has resulted in the loss of wildlife, including 20 high-priority animals and 56 high-priority plants in Georgia. However, many landowners are now working to restore longleaf pine forests by reintroducing prescribed burning, a critical ecological component for these forests. The restoration efforts are supported by the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Statewide Forest Resources Assessment & Strategy and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources State Wildlife Action Plan.

Unlike loblolly or slash pine, longleaf pine can be safely subjected to prescribed burning in its first decade of growth, maintaining native understory plant communities for wildlife. Longleaf pine is also less susceptible to various threats like pests, insects, and disease. It can thrive on various soil types and produce more timber volume on low-quality soils. With a lifespan of hundreds of years, longleaf pine offers landowners long-term management flexibility that benefits wildlife, aesthetics, recreation, timber, soil, and water resources. Properly managed longleaf pine forests, planted at suitable densities, regularly prescribed burned, and thinned to maintain canopy cover, can yield multiple natural resources. (Read more)

The destructive rooting behavior of feral swine disrupts the delicate balance of longleaf pine habitats, impeding efforts towards their restoration and conservation. This nexus between feral swine and longleaf pine restoration underscores a critical need for deeper exploration, particularly from an economic standpoint. While the immediate costs of feral swine damage are evident, the long-term implications for timber industries and ecosystem services remain less understood.

As conservationists and policymakers grapple with these complexities, conversations are gaining momentum, sparking interest in statewide dialogues on the intertwined fates of feral swine management and longleaf pine conservation.

The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts, in collaboration with partners like the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and local stakeholders, plays a pivotal role in driving these discussions forward. Initiatives such as trap rental programs in Middle South Georgia and trap lease programs by the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District demonstrate a concerted effort to engage communities, empower landowners, and foster sustainable solutions to the feral swine crisis.

As Georgia navigates the intricate web of ecological challenges posed by feral swine, one thing remains clear: the stakes are high, but so is the resolve to confront them.

To learn more about the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts, the soil and water conservation districts of Georgia and associate programs, please visit,  https://www.gacd.us/.

Tags: Forestry Notes, Feral Swine