HOPKINSVILLE, KY – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and partners will begin its annual campaign to reduce the number of feral swine at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area on Jan. 12.
With collaboration from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and Tennessee 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 Land Between the Lakes through February. 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 Land Between the Lakes. 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 Land Between the Lakes. “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.”
Night-vision helicopters will track hogs
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.
At the forefront of the collaborative effort is the safety of visitors and staff, with a detailed plan for efficiency and effectiveness. Visitors recreating should be aware of additional official vehicles and aircraft in areas of Land Between the Lakes for the remainder of the winter season…