Feral Hogs in Oklahoma: Population, Damage, Signs & What Homeowners Need to Know

Educational resource for Oklahoma City metro homeowners. Alpha Pest Solutions does not trap or remove feral hogs. We refer feral hog concerns to ODWC and USDA Wildlife Services.

Licensed & Insured | Serving OKC Metro Since 2021 | Same-Day Service Available | (405) 977-0678

Quick Reference

Feature	Details
Scientific Name	Sus scrofa
Classification	Mammalia / Artiodactyla / Suidae
Size	100 to 400 lbs; 4 to 6 feet long; 2.5 to 3 feet at the shoulder
Color	Black, brown, reddish-brown, spotted, or mixed; bristly coarse coat
Lifespan	4 to 8 years in the wild
Diet	Omnivore. Roots, tubers, acorns, crops, invertebrates, small vertebrates, carrion, eggs
Reproduction	2 litters per year; 4 to 12 piglets per litter; sexually mature at 6 months
Active Season in Oklahoma	Year-round; most active and destructive spring through fall
Threat Level	High risk to property, agriculture, water quality, and native ecosystems. Low direct risk to humans unless cornered.
Common in OKC Metro	Primarily rural fringe areas: Choctaw, Harrah, eastern Canadian County, south Norman, Blanchard. Increasingly reported at suburban edges.

Oklahoma has one of the largest feral hog populations in the United States, with estimates exceeding 500,000 animals statewide. These invasive animals cause catastrophic damage to agricultural land, native ecosystems, and residential properties across central Oklahoma. Feral hogs are not native to North America. They descend from domestic pigs and European wild boar introduced by settlers, and their populations have exploded across Oklahoma’s rural and semi-rural landscapes over the past several decades.

Alpha Pest Solutions receives calls from homeowners on the metro fringe who discover their yard or pasture has been destroyed overnight. We want to be clear and upfront about this: Alpha Pest Solutions does not trap, remove, or manage feral hogs. Feral hog management in Oklahoma falls under the authority of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) and the USDA Wildlife Services program. This page exists to help Oklahoma homeowners identify feral hog activity, understand the damage these animals cause, and connect with the correct agencies for help. If you need assistance with other wildlife entering your home or property, including raccoons, opossums, skunks, squirrels, armadillos, or bats, call or text Alpha Pest Solutions at (405) 977-0678 for a free inspection.

Identifying Feral Hogs in Oklahoma

Feral hogs are stocky, barrel-shaped animals built for rooting and foraging. They are unmistakable once you know what to look for, but homeowners who have never encountered one may confuse their signs with damage from other wildlife.

Size and build. Adult feral hogs weigh anywhere from 100 to over 400 pounds, with the average adult in Oklahoma running 150 to 250 pounds. Males (boars) are typically larger than females (sows). They stand 2.5 to 3 feet tall at the shoulder and measure 4 to 6 feet from snout to tail. The body is compact and muscular with short, sturdy legs. The neck is thick and the head is large relative to the body, tapering to a long, flexible snout designed for digging.

Coat. The coat consists of coarse, bristly hair that can range from solid black (the most common color in Oklahoma) to brown, reddish-brown, gray, spotted, or belted patterns. Some individuals show the characteristic striped pattern of juvenile wild boar. Coat thickness increases significantly in winter, and during summer months the hair may thin enough to reveal dark skin underneath.

Tusks. Both males and females have tusks, but they are dramatically larger in boars. Male tusks can grow 3 to 5 inches or longer and are continuously sharpened as the lower tusks grind against the upper tusks. These tusks are the primary reason feral hogs are dangerous when cornered. Females have shorter, less visible tusks.

Snout. The snout is the feral hog’s most important tool. It is long, cartilaginous, and extremely strong. Feral hogs use the snout like a plow to root through soil, flip rocks, tear up sod, and dig for buried food sources. The snout has a flat, disc-shaped tip with nostrils at the end, which distinguishes it from the tapered noses of native wildlife.

Tail. The tail is straight (not curly like a domestic pig) and hangs down when relaxed. Some feral hogs with recent domestic ancestry may have a slight curl, but purebred feral stock always has a straight tail.

Ears. Ears vary depending on ancestry. Animals with more European wild boar genetics have smaller, upright ears. Those with more domestic pig ancestry may have larger, partially floppy ears. Most Oklahoma feral hogs have intermediate ears that stand semi-erect.

Feral Hog vs. Domestic Pig

The distinction between a feral hog and a domestic pig is more about behavior and adaptation than strict genetics. Domestic pigs that escape into the wild undergo physical changes within a single generation. Their coats become coarser and bristlier. Their snouts elongate. They become leaner and more muscular. Piglets born in the wild may develop the striped camouflage pattern of wild boar, even if their parents were pink domestic pigs. Behaviorally, feral hogs are far more aggressive, alert, and difficult to approach than any domestic pig.

Feral Hog vs. Javelina (Peccary)

Javelinas (collared peccaries) are present in southwestern Oklahoma but are not found in the OKC metro area. Javelinas are much smaller (35 to 55 pounds), have a grizzled gray-brown coat with a distinctive white collar band, and belong to an entirely different family (Tayassuidae). They travel in herds and have a musky, skunk-like odor. Any pig-like animal encountered in central Oklahoma is a feral hog, not a javelina.

Why Feral Hogs Are Oklahoma’s Worst Invasive Species

Feral hogs hold the distinction of being the most destructive invasive species in Oklahoma, and experts consistently rank them among the worst invasive species in the entire United States. The numbers tell the story.

Agricultural destruction. Feral hogs cause an estimated $1.5 billion in agricultural damage nationally per year, and Oklahoma bears a disproportionate share of that cost. They destroy row crops (corn, soybeans, wheat, grain sorghum), consume livestock feed, damage fencing and irrigation equipment, and compact soil in pastures. A single sounder of 15 to 20 hogs can destroy an entire wheat field in one night.

Native ecosystem damage. Feral hogs are ecosystem wreckers. Their rooting behavior destroys native plant communities, disrupts soil structure, accelerates erosion, and eliminates ground-nesting bird habitat. They compete directly with native wildlife for food, particularly acorns, which are a critical food source for deer, turkey, and squirrels. In Oklahoma’s Cross Timbers and bottomland hardwood forests, feral hog rooting has degraded habitat quality for dozens of native species.

Water quality contamination. Feral hogs wallow in stock ponds, creeks, and streams, introducing sediment, fecal bacteria, and pathogens into water sources. Their activity along waterways accelerates bank erosion and degrades riparian habitat. Multiple studies in Oklahoma have documented elevated E. coli levels in watersheds with high feral hog populations.

Predation. While primarily omnivorous foragers, feral hogs are opportunistic predators. They consume ground-nesting bird eggs (including quail and turkey), newborn fawns, sea turtle eggs (in coastal states), reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. In Oklahoma, the impact on northern bobwhite quail populations has been particularly concerning for wildlife managers.

Population explosion. Feral hogs reproduce at a rate that overwhelms management efforts. A single sow can produce two litters per year, each containing 4 to 12 piglets. Piglets reach sexual maturity at six months. This means a single pair of feral hogs can theoretically produce over 1,000 descendants within five years. Wildlife biologists estimate that 70 percent of the population must be removed annually just to prevent population growth, and current removal efforts across Oklahoma fall well short of that threshold.

Feral Hog Behavior and Habits

Understanding feral hog behavior helps homeowners on the metro fringe recognize what they are dealing with and predict where damage is likely to occur.

Social structure. Female feral hogs and their offspring travel in groups called sounders. A typical sounder consists of two to three adult sows and their piglets and juveniles, totaling 6 to 30 animals. Sounders have overlapping home ranges and are led by a dominant sow. Adult males (boars) are generally solitary or travel in small bachelor groups of two to three. Boars join sounders temporarily during breeding season.

Activity patterns. Feral hogs are primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, especially in areas with human activity. Peak feeding and movement occur between sunset and sunrise, with the highest activity in the first few hours after dark and the last hours before dawn. During cooler months or in areas with minimal human disturbance, they may feed during daylight hours. This nocturnal behavior makes direct observation difficult, which is why most homeowners discover hog damage in the morning without ever seeing the animals.

Home range. In central Oklahoma, feral hog home ranges typically span 2 to 10 square miles, though this varies based on food availability and population density. Sounders that discover a reliable food source (a grain field, a supplemental deer feeder, or a well-watered lawn with grubs) may remain in a small area for days or weeks before moving on.

Intelligence and adaptability. Feral hogs are among the most intelligent mammals in North America. They learn to avoid traps after a single encounter. They adapt their movement patterns to avoid hunters and dogs. They can detect human scent from hundreds of yards away and will alter their travel routes accordingly. This intelligence is the primary reason population control is so difficult. Hogs that survive a trapping attempt become “trap-shy” and may never enter a trap again.

Wallowing. Feral hogs have no sweat glands and must wallow in mud and water to regulate body temperature. They create and maintain wallows in stock ponds, creek banks, drainage ditches, and any low-lying area that holds water. Wallowing behavior intensifies during Oklahoma’s hot summer months (June through September). Wallows are a major vector for water contamination and parasite transmission.

Rooting. Rooting is the most visible and destructive feral hog behavior. Using their powerful snouts, hogs plow through soil to reach roots, tubers, grubs, earthworms, and other buried food sources. A single night of rooting can turn a manicured lawn or pasture into what looks like someone drove a rototiller through it. Rooting intensifies after rain, when soil is soft and invertebrates are closer to the surface. In central Oklahoma, the combination of red clay soil and post-rain conditions makes rooting damage particularly severe.

Signs of Feral Hog Activity

Knowing what feral hog damage looks like is critical for homeowners on the metro fringe. The signs are distinctive once you know what to look for.

Rooted soil. This is the most obvious sign. Large patches of torn-up, overturned soil that look like someone ran a rototiller or small plow across the ground. Rooting can be shallow (2 to 3 inches deep for surface grubs) or deep (8 to 12 inches or more for roots and tubers). The damage pattern is irregular and widespread, often covering hundreds or thousands of square feet in a single night.

Wallows. Muddy depressions near water sources, typically 3 to 6 feet across and a foot or more deep. The edges are slick with mud and often surrounded by tracks and flattened vegetation. Active wallows have a strong, musky odor.

Rubs. After wallowing, feral hogs rub against trees, fence posts, utility poles, and any other vertical surface to coat themselves with mud (which helps control parasites and insects). Look for mud stains on tree trunks and fence posts at 1.5 to 3 feet above ground level, along with worn bark and bristly hog hair caught in rough surfaces.

Tracks. Feral hog tracks are distinctive and should not be confused with deer tracks. Both species have split hooves, but hog tracks are wider, rounder, and blunter than the narrow, pointed tracks of deer. Adult hog tracks measure approximately 2.5 to 3.5 inches long and nearly as wide. The dewclaws (small toes behind the main hooves) frequently register in hog tracks, especially in soft soil, creating a four-toed print. Deer dewclaws only register when the animal is running or in very soft ground.

Damaged fencing. Feral hogs push through, under, and occasionally over fencing. Look for bent or broken wire, pushed-out fence posts, dug-out areas under fence lines, and hog hair caught on barbed wire.

Trails. Feral hogs use the same travel routes repeatedly, creating well-worn trails through brush, timber, and tall grass. These trails are typically 12 to 18 inches wide and show heavy track impressions. They often follow fence lines, creek banks, and the edges of timber and brush.

Scat. Feral hog droppings are large, segmented, and typically deposited in piles rather than scattered. Individual segments are 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Contents often include visible plant material, mast (acorn fragments), and insect parts. Fresh scat is dark and moist; older scat dries to a lighter color and crumbles.

Crop and garden damage. Feral hogs will consume or destroy virtually any garden crop. Corn is a particular favorite. They also dig up sweet potatoes, eat melons and squash, and root through freshly planted rows. Damage occurs overnight and is immediately obvious.

Where Feral Hogs Are Found in the OKC Metro

Feral hogs are not an urban pest. They are primarily a rural and semi-rural problem. However, as suburban development pushes outward into former agricultural and timber land, the interface between hog habitat and residential property is growing.

Choctaw and Harrah. The eastern edge of the OKC metro, particularly the area east of Choctaw and around Harrah, has some of the highest feral hog activity in the metro region. The mix of creek bottoms, timber, agricultural fields, and low-density residential development creates ideal hog habitat. Homeowners with acreage along the Deep Fork Creek drainage and the tributaries feeding into Lake Stanley Draper report regular hog damage. The Choctaw service area experiences feral hog encounters frequently, and this is one of the reasons Alpha Pest Solutions maintains an awareness resource for these homeowners.

Eastern Canadian County. The rural areas east of Yukon and south of El Reno, particularly along the Canadian River floodplain, support feral hog populations. These bottomland areas with dense timber, water, and agricultural crops provide everything hogs need.

South Norman and Blanchard. The area south of Norman toward Blanchard and Purcell, along the Canadian River and its tributaries, has well-established feral hog populations. Properties along the river bottoms and in the rolling terrain east of Highway 77 are most frequently affected.

Eastern Edmond and Arcadia. The transition zone between eastern Edmond’s suburban development and the rural land around Arcadia and Luther has occasional feral hog reports, particularly during periods when hogs move along creek corridors searching for food.

Rural properties with acreage. Within the broader OKC metro, any property of 5 or more acres that borders timber, creek bottoms, or agricultural land is at risk for feral hog damage. The risk increases significantly for properties adjacent to large tracts of undeveloped land or wildlife management areas.

Feral Hog Season in Oklahoma

Feral hogs are active year-round in Oklahoma, but their behavior and the damage they cause shift with the seasons.

Spring (March through May). Peak farrowing season for the first litter of the year. Sows seek sheltered areas in dense brush and timber to give birth. Rooting intensifies as hogs search for emerging plant shoots, grubs, and earthworms in softening soil. This is the season when many homeowners first discover hog damage on their property as soil conditions make rooting easier and the fresh growth attracts hog activity.

Summer (June through September). Wallowing behavior peaks during Oklahoma’s hot months. Hogs concentrate near water sources and may damage stock ponds, irrigation systems, and creek banks. Nocturnal activity intensifies as hogs avoid daytime heat. Agricultural crop damage peaks as corn, grain sorghum, and summer produce ripen.

Fall (October through November). Acorn mast fall drives feral hog movement into oak timber. Hogs feed heavily on acorns, pecans, and other mast to build fat reserves. This is when hog damage in Cross Timbers habitat and pecan groves is most severe. Second litter piglets from spring breeding are growing rapidly and adding to the feeding pressure.

Winter (December through February). Hogs continue foraging but may shift to root more aggressively for underground food sources as surface food becomes scarce. Cold weather does not significantly reduce feral hog activity in Oklahoma. Sounders may concentrate in sheltered areas along creek bottoms and in dense timber during extreme cold.

Health Risks Associated with Feral Hogs

Feral hogs carry over 30 diseases and parasites that can affect humans, livestock, pets, and native wildlife. Oklahoma homeowners on the metro fringe should be aware of these risks.

Brucellosis. Feral hogs are a documented reservoir for swine brucellosis (Brucella suis) in Oklahoma. This bacterial disease can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected hog blood, tissues, or reproductive fluids. Hunters who field-dress feral hogs without gloves are at highest risk. Symptoms include undulant fever, joint pain, fatigue, and sweating. Brucellosis is reportable to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Pseudorabies. Also called Aujeszky’s disease, pseudorabies is a viral disease carried by feral hogs that is lethal to dogs, cats, cattle, sheep, and goats. There is no treatment and no vaccine approved for companion animals. Dogs that encounter feral hogs or investigate areas where hogs have been are at risk. Pseudorabies does not infect humans.

Swine influenza. Feral hogs can carry and transmit various strains of influenza virus. While human-to-swine influenza transmission is more commonly associated with domestic pig operations, the presence of feral hogs near residential areas creates an additional vector.

E. coli and Salmonella. Feral hog feces contaminate water sources with pathogenic bacteria. Properties with wells or private water systems that draw from surface water or shallow groundwater near areas of heavy hog activity should have water tested regularly.

Leptospirosis. This bacterial disease spreads through contact with water or soil contaminated by feral hog urine. Dogs that drink from or swim in water sources used by feral hogs are at risk. Leptospirosis causes kidney and liver damage in both dogs and humans.

External parasites. Feral hogs carry ticks (including lone star ticks and American dog ticks common in Oklahoma), fleas, lice, and mange mites. These parasites can transfer to pets and livestock that use the same areas. Hog wallows and bedding sites are particularly heavy with parasitic loads.

Internal parasites. Feral hogs host numerous internal parasites including roundworms, kidney worms, lungworms, and liver flukes. While most are species-specific, some can infect humans or livestock through contaminated water or soil.

Aggression. Feral hogs are generally not aggressive toward humans and will flee when given the opportunity. However, a cornered hog, a sow with piglets, or a boar during breeding season can be extremely dangerous. Their tusks can inflict deep, ragged wounds that are prone to infection. Never approach, corner, or attempt to handle a feral hog.

Property and Structural Damage

The economic damage caused by feral hogs extends well beyond agriculture.

Lawn and landscape damage. A single night of rooting can destroy a lawn that took years to establish. Feral hogs root up sod, flower beds, garden areas, and landscaping with equal enthusiasm. The damage is not superficial. Rooting tears out root systems and inverts soil structure, meaning the affected area requires complete re-grading and re-seeding or re-sodding.

Pasture degradation. For rural and semi-rural properties with horse pastures or livestock grazing, feral hog rooting creates dangerous conditions. Holes and torn-up ground create tripping hazards for horses and cattle. Contaminated wallows can transmit diseases to livestock.

Fencing. Feral hogs destroy fencing routinely. They push through wire fencing, bend metal posts, and dig under fence lines. Repairing or replacing fencing after hog damage is a recurring expense for affected property owners.

Garden and food plots. Home gardens, food plots for deer, and any supplemental feeding operation attract feral hogs. Once hogs discover a food source, they return repeatedly until it is exhausted or protected.

Water features. Stock ponds, ornamental ponds, and creek banks on private property are degraded by wallowing, rooting, and bank trampling. Hog activity can collapse pond dams, muddy water to the point where fish kills occur, and erode banks that took years to stabilize.

Vehicle and equipment damage. Feral hogs crossing roads at night cause vehicle collisions. On rural properties, they damage irrigation systems, field equipment, and anything left in areas they frequent.

Prevention and Deterrence

While no method is 100 percent effective at preventing feral hog damage, several strategies can reduce the likelihood and severity of encounters.

Fencing. High-tensile electric fencing is the most effective deterrent for small areas like gardens, food plots, and high-value landscaping. A two-strand electric fence (one strand at 12 inches, one at 24 inches) powered by a strong charger will deter most hogs. Standard barbed wire and field fencing are not effective barriers.

Remove attractants. Eliminate or secure food sources that draw hogs. This includes supplemental deer feeders (which are major hog attractants), pet food left outdoors, unsecured garbage, fallen fruit, and accessible compost piles.

Motion-activated deterrents. Motion-activated lights, sprinklers, and sound devices can provide temporary deterrence. However, feral hogs habituate to most non-harmful deterrents within a few days to weeks.

Report activity promptly. Contact ODWC or USDA Wildlife Services as soon as you confirm feral hog activity on your property. Early reporting allows management efforts to begin before populations establish and damage escalates.

Coordinate with neighbors. Feral hog management is most effective when neighboring landowners work together. A single property owner cannot manage hogs that move freely across multiple properties.

Secure water sources. Where possible, fence stock ponds and water features to prevent wallowing. This is particularly important for maintaining water quality in rural water sources.

Maintain fencing. Inspect fence lines regularly for signs of hog intrusion (dig marks, bent wire, hog hair on barbed wire) and repair damage promptly.

Legal Status: Hunting and Management in Oklahoma

Understanding the legal framework for feral hog management in Oklahoma is important for affected landowners.

No closed season. There is no closed season on feral hogs in Oklahoma. They can be hunted year-round on private land with landowner permission. No bag limit applies. A valid Oklahoma hunting license is required.

Hunting methods. Oklahoma allows feral hog hunting with firearms, archery, and dogs on private land. Night hunting with artificial light is legal for feral hogs with a special night hunting license available through ODWC.

Trapping. Corral-style traps that capture entire sounders are the most effective management tool. Box traps that capture individual hogs are less effective because they educate the remaining members of the sounder. USDA Wildlife Services operates large-scale trapping programs across Oklahoma.

Aerial gunning. USDA Wildlife Services conducts aerial gunning operations from helicopters, which is the most effective method for removing large numbers of hogs from a landscape. This is a professional operation and is not available to individual landowners.

Public land. Feral hog hunting is allowed on most Wildlife Management Areas in Oklahoma during open hunting seasons. Check ODWC regulations for specific WMA rules.

It is illegal to release hogs. Oklahoma law prohibits the release of domestic or feral hogs onto any land for the purpose of establishing a free-ranging population. Violators face significant fines.

Who to Contact About Feral Hog Problems

Alpha Pest Solutions does not handle feral hog situations. The following agencies are the correct points of contact:

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC)

Phone: (405) 521-3851

Website: wildlifedepartment.com

ODWC manages feral hog hunting regulations, provides landowner assistance, and coordinates with federal agencies on large-scale management efforts.

USDA Wildlife Services

Phone: 1-866-4USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297)

USDA Wildlife Services provides professional feral hog management including trapping, aerial operations, and technical assistance to landowners at no cost or reduced cost.

Oklahoma State University Extension

Your county Extension office can provide educational resources on feral hog management, damage assessment, and recommended practices for protecting property and livestock.

Local county sheriff. If feral hogs are creating an immediate safety hazard (blocking roads, in a residential yard with children present, trapped in a structure), contact your local law enforcement for immediate assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Feral Hogs in Oklahoma

How many feral hogs are in Oklahoma?

Current estimates place Oklahoma’s feral hog population at over 500,000 animals statewide, making it one of the top five states for feral hog population in the nation. Despite aggressive management efforts that remove tens of thousands of hogs annually, the population continues to grow due to the species’ extraordinary reproductive rate. Feral hog populations are present in all 77 Oklahoma counties, with the highest concentrations in the eastern half of the state, the Cross Timbers region, and along major river corridors including the Canadian, Red, and Arkansas rivers.

Are feral hogs dangerous to humans?

Feral hogs generally avoid humans and will flee when given the opportunity. However, they can be extremely dangerous when cornered, wounded, or protecting piglets. Adult boars have sharp tusks that can cause severe lacerations. Sows defending piglets will charge aggressively. Never approach a feral hog on foot, never attempt to corner or capture one without professional equipment, and keep children and pets away from areas with confirmed hog activity. Vehicle collisions with feral hogs also cause injuries and property damage, particularly on rural roads at night.

What does feral hog damage look like?

The most recognizable sign of feral hog damage is rooted soil. It looks like someone drove a rototiller through your yard, pasture, or garden. Large patches of overturned earth, torn-up sod, and exposed roots cover the affected area. The damage is typically widespread (hundreds to thousands of square feet) and occurs overnight. Unlike armadillo digging, which creates small, cone-shaped holes 3 to 4 inches across, feral hog rooting produces broad, churned-up swaths of destroyed turf. Unlike gopher damage, which creates mounded soil plugs, hog damage inverts and scatters soil across the surface.

Can Alpha Pest Solutions help with feral hogs?

No. Alpha Pest Solutions does not trap, remove, or manage feral hogs. Feral hog management requires specialized equipment, personnel, and legal authority that falls outside the scope of residential and commercial pest control. We refer all feral hog concerns to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation at (405) 521-3851 and USDA Wildlife Services at 1-866-4USDA-WS. If you are experiencing wildlife issues that Alpha Pest does handle, including raccoons, opossums, skunks, squirrels, armadillos, bats, or birds, call or text us at (405) 977-0678 for a free inspection.

Do feral hogs carry diseases?

Yes. Feral hogs carry over 30 documented diseases and parasites. The most significant include brucellosis (a bacterial infection transmissible to humans through contact with infected tissues), pseudorabies (lethal to dogs, cats, and livestock), leptospirosis, swine influenza, E. coli, and Salmonella. They also carry external parasites including ticks, fleas, and mange mites. Feral hog feces contaminate water sources with pathogenic bacteria. If you handle a feral hog carcass, always wear gloves and wash thoroughly afterward.

What is a sounder?

A sounder is the social unit of feral hogs consisting of one or more adult sows and their offspring. Sounders typically contain 6 to 30 animals, though groups of 50 or more have been documented in areas with abundant food. Adult boars are generally not part of the sounder structure and travel alone or in small bachelor groups except during breeding season. Sounders travel, feed, and rest together and are led by a dominant sow. Understanding sounder structure is important for management because trapping efforts must capture the entire sounder to be effective.

Why is trapping individual hogs ineffective?

Trapping individual hogs using box traps is counterproductive because feral hogs are extremely intelligent. When one member of a sounder is captured and the others escape, the surviving hogs become “trap-shy” and learn to avoid traps permanently. This educated population is then much harder to manage. Effective trapping uses large corral-style traps that are baited and monitored for days or weeks until the entire sounder is entering the trap consistently. The trap is then triggered to capture all animals at once. USDA Wildlife Services employs this whole-sounder approach across Oklahoma.

Can I shoot feral hogs on my property?

In Oklahoma, feral hogs can be hunted year-round on private land with landowner permission and a valid Oklahoma hunting license. There is no closed season and no bag limit. Night hunting with artificial light requires a separate night hunting license available through ODWC. Firearms are the most common method, and archery and dogs are also permitted. However, shooting alone is not an effective population management strategy because individual hogs that survive gunfire become nocturnal and hyper-cautious, making future encounters less likely.

How fast do feral hogs reproduce?

Feral hogs have one of the highest reproductive rates of any large mammal in North America. Sows reach sexual maturity at approximately six months of age. They can produce two litters per year, with each litter containing 4 to 12 piglets (averaging 6 to 8). Gestation is approximately 114 days. This means a single sow can produce 12 to 24 piglets per year. Wildlife biologists estimate that approximately 70 percent of a feral hog population must be removed annually just to keep the population stable. Current removal efforts in Oklahoma fall well below this threshold.

What time of day are feral hogs most active?

Feral hogs are primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, with peak activity occurring in the first few hours after sunset and the last hours before sunrise. In areas with heavy hunting pressure or frequent human activity, hogs shift almost entirely to nighttime movement. During cooler months or in remote areas with little human disturbance, they may be active during daylight. This nocturnal behavior is why most homeowners discover hog damage in the morning without ever seeing the animals responsible.

Do feral hogs migrate or stay in one area?

Feral hogs are not migratory in the traditional sense, but they are highly mobile. Home ranges in central Oklahoma typically span 2 to 10 square miles, and hogs will shift their range based on food availability, water access, and human disturbance. A sounder may use the same general area for weeks or months if food and water are reliable, then move several miles overnight when conditions change. This unpredictable movement pattern makes it difficult for individual landowners to manage hogs without coordinating with neighboring properties.

How do I tell the difference between feral hog tracks and deer tracks?

Both feral hogs and deer have split hooves, which causes frequent confusion. Key differences: Feral hog tracks are wider and rounder with blunt tips. Deer tracks are narrower and more pointed. Hog tracks are nearly as wide as they are long, while deer tracks are significantly longer than wide. Hog dewclaws (the small secondary toes behind the main hooves) frequently register in tracks, creating a four-toed print. Deer dewclaws only register when running or in very soft ground. Adult hog tracks measure roughly 2.5 to 3.5 inches long by 2 to 3 inches wide. Adult deer tracks are typically 2.5 to 3.5 inches long but only 1.5 to 2 inches wide.

Will a regular fence keep feral hogs out?

Standard field fencing, barbed wire, and most residential fencing will not reliably keep feral hogs out. Hogs can push through or under most wire fencing, and their strength allows them to bend metal posts and break wire ties. The most effective barrier is high-tensile electric fencing with at least two strands: one at 12 inches above ground and one at 24 inches. The electric charge delivers an unpleasant shock that deters hogs from pushing through. For smaller, high-value areas like gardens, a heavy-gauge welded wire panel fence buried 6 to 8 inches underground and standing at least 3 feet tall, combined with an electric strand, provides reliable protection.

Are feral hog populations increasing or decreasing in Oklahoma?

Despite decades of management efforts, feral hog populations in Oklahoma continue to increase. The species’ reproductive rate overwhelms current removal capacity. Tens of thousands of feral hogs are removed from Oklahoma annually through hunting, trapping, and aerial operations, yet the population grows. Feral hogs have expanded their range from 33 Oklahoma counties in the 1980s to all 77 counties today. In the OKC metro fringe areas, population growth is driven by suburban expansion into hog habitat, creating more human-hog interface and more reported damage.

What should I do if I find feral hog damage on my property?

First, document the damage with photographs and note the date. Then contact ODWC at (405) 521-3851 or USDA Wildlife Services at 1-866-4USDA-WS to report the activity and request assistance. Do not attempt to confront or trap the hogs yourself unless you have experience and proper equipment. If the damage is to landscaping or turf, the affected area will need to be re-graded and re-seeded or re-sodded once hog activity is managed. For agricultural damage, contact your county OSU Extension office for guidance on damage assessment and potential cost-share programs for management.

Can feral hogs damage my well or water supply?

Feral hogs can contaminate surface water sources through wallowing, defecation, and bank erosion. If your property uses a private well that draws from shallow groundwater near areas of heavy hog activity, there is a risk of bacterial contamination. Properties with stock ponds used for livestock watering should test water quality if hog wallowing has occurred. Municipal water supplies serving OKC metro communities are not at risk from feral hog contamination due to treatment processes.

Why does Alpha Pest Solutions have a feral hog page if they do not handle hogs?

Alpha Pest Solutions serves homeowners across the OKC metro, including communities on the urban-rural fringe like Choctaw where feral hog encounters are common. We believe in providing accurate, Oklahoma-specific information to help homeowners identify what they are dealing with and connect with the right resource. Many homeowners who contact pest control companies about yard damage are actually experiencing feral hog rooting, armadillo digging, or gopher tunneling. This page helps homeowners distinguish between these different types of damage and contact the appropriate service provider.

Related Services and Pests

While Alpha Pest Solutions does not manage feral hogs, we do handle many of the wildlife and pest issues that affect the same properties.

Wildlife Control — Raccoons, opossums, skunks, squirrels, bats, and other wildlife that enter homes and structures. Licensed, humane removal with exclusion.
Armadillos — Another yard-rooting animal common in the OKC metro. Armadillo damage is often confused with feral hog damage, though armadillo holes are much smaller and more localized.
Gophers — Gopher mounds and tunneling damage are sometimes confused with hog rooting by homeowners unfamiliar with either species. Gopher damage creates distinctive soil plugs and raised tunnel ridges.
Coyotes — Another large wildlife species common on the OKC metro fringe. Like feral hogs, coyotes are managed by ODWC rather than pest control companies.
Choctaw Service Area — One of the OKC metro communities most affected by feral hog activity on the urban-rural boundary. Alpha Pest Solutions serves Choctaw for all residential pest control needs.

Protecting Your OKC Metro Property

Feral hogs are a serious and growing problem across Oklahoma, and homeowners on the metro fringe are increasingly affected. Alpha Pest Solutions does not handle feral hog situations, but we are committed to helping Oklahoma homeowners identify the source of property damage and connect with the right resource.

For feral hog concerns: Contact ODWC at (405) 521-3851 or USDA Wildlife Services at 1-866-4USDA-WS.

For all other pest and wildlife issues: Alpha Pest Solutions provides licensed, professional pest control and wildlife management across the OKC metro. If you are dealing with raccoons, opossums, armadillos, rodents, insects, or any other pest that is not a feral hog, call or text (405) 977-0678 for a free inspection. We serve Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Midwest City, Choctaw, Yukon, Mustang, Del City, Bethany, Nichols Hills, and The Village.