Trapping of feral swine at any time, and shooting of feral swine at night, is currently prohibited unless done in conjunction with a depredation permit issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC).  Depredation permits require demonstration of property damage in excess of fifty dollars ($50), threat to human safety, or documented overabundance.  Landowners meeting one or more of these criteria who are interested in obtaining a depredation permit for feral swine should call the WRC Communications Center at (919) 707-0040 and request to be contacted by a local Wildlife Enforcement Officer. 

Individuals are reminded that it is illegal to remove live swine from a trap – they must be euthanized in the trap.  No part of a feral swine shot or trapped under a depredation permit may be kept unless specifically authorized as a condition of the permit.  However, licensed hunters and other licensed exempt individuals may shoot feral swine at any time during normal hunting hours without a permit and may keep all portions of feral swine taken in this manner.

The current prohibition against trapping and shooting feral swine at night exists due to changes in statutory language related to wild boar and feral swine.  The WRC currently has a temporary rule proposed that will allow landowners and others to trap, euthanize and keep feral swine under a special feral swine trapping permit which will not require an economic justification or any other documentation of need.  If adopted, the new trapping permits will be available for self –issuance from the Commission’s website at www.ncwildlife.org.  The prohibition against removing feral swine from a trap alive will remain.

Please check back on or after December 29, 2011 regarding the availability of self- issued permits for trapping feral swine.

The goal of recent legislative changes and rule modifications is to make it easier to remove feral swine from the landscape.  These exotic non-native animals compete with native wildlife and pose significant threats to the environment and agricultural operations.  The WRC will continue to evaluate opportunities to facilitate aggressive removal of feral swine.