We reported recently about the story from last year and many stories over the years about the wild hog problem in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL). The hogs were always found mostly in the southern portion of LBL, which is all in Stewart Co. We have learned they have now moved north into KY. We reached out to LBL for numbers of hogs killed last year. They responded, “Thanks for reaching out. As you know, LBL has traditionally begun our annual aerial operations in Jan., and 2026 is no different. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service (USFS) and partners will begin its annual campaign to reduce the number of feral swine at LBL, Jan. 12.
Public Affairs Officer for USFS, Scott Raymond, told the Standard, “With collaboration from the KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and TN Wildlife Resources Agency, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, also known as APHIS, will use aerial operations and bait trapping to euthanize feral swine at LBL through Feb. Feral swine are non-native and threaten visitor safety, cultural sites and native plant and wildlife species. They also cause negative ecological impacts, including to agriculture. “Feral hogs have become a challenge for all of us who care about LBL. They can harm the land and wildlife we enjoy, so we’re working together with our partners to manage the problem in a responsible way,” said Jim McCoy, area supervisor at LBL. “This is a team effort, and we’re thankful for everyone’s support in helping keep this area healthy and welcoming for visitors and neighbors alike.”
Raymond’s email went on to state, “The combined efforts in 2026 will include the use of Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) equipped helicopter to aid the search for feral swine and direct wildlife specialists to their location, which will increase the efficiency of removal operations. This technique is an additional tool necessary to curb the feral swine population. APHIS also works to trap the animals year-round with the help of sighting reports from visitors.” According to Raymond, visitors recreating should be aware of additional official vehicles and aircraft in areas of LBL for the remainder of the winter season. He said, “Feral swine are largely localized to the TN portion of LBL, with some reported sightings north of the state line. The location of swine will dictate APHIS’ daily operation areas.”…