The McFadden Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that offers free processed hogs to the needy in the area, held their first hog corral round-up on Dec. 16 at the McFadden Property in Donalsonville, Ga.

Raymond Wilson facilitated the event. Local hunters Adam Young, John Pettis, Leonard Stuart and Brent Pettis participated in the event.

This is the first of several round-ups that will be conducted on the property to control the feral hog overpopulation. Edible hogs will be processed into delicious sausage and donated to Children and Family Services and others in need.

Wilson, who is the hunting coordinator for McFadden Foundation, said, “Severe property damage is being caused by feral hogs that the McFadden Foundation is working to preserve. Almost every road and food plot has massive holes dug out. It is not just aesthetics. They destroy valuable, threatened native plant and wildlife habitat. We hope that this will be helpful to others in the community who are interested in protecting their natural lands.”

The goal is to capture and shoot complete social groups for two reasons. Because hogs are intelligent, they react to hunting pressure and become more difficult to hunt. Secondly, corrals also help to reduce the number of orphaned pigs.

The first corral on the property was designed by the late Pat McFadden. Four other pens, similar to his, were also installed.

In the first corral efforts, 13 hogs were captured proving the pens dependable and durable. Hog hunting was not permitted a few months prior to the round-up. Pens were baited with corn every other day. The winter is the ideal time as the local processor has his refrigeration units active.

Hogs are not native to the United States.

Christopher Columbus first introduced hogs into the Americas in 1498.

Hernando DeSoto also brought hogs with him in the 1540s.

Today, feral hogs are a growing problem throughout the United States. Once grown, they have few natural enemies and multiply profusely. Because of this, there is no limit or seasonal restrictions. All that is required is a hunting permit.

Wild hogs are such a threat to the native environment that they are illegal to transport off any property alive.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, wild hogs can transmit disease. Swine brucellosis and pseudorabies are transmissible to domestic pigs. Humans can get swine brucellosis through handling infected tissues of wild pigs.

Pseudorabies can result in a fatal infection for domestic and wild animals. Hogs compete with animals such as deer, wild turkey, quail, bear and grouse for the valuable food supply.