GOLDEN POND, Ky. (WKRN) — The Land Between the Lakes National Recreational Area along the Kentucky-Tennessee border has long been a great destination for visitors to experience nature and observe wildlife.
However, in recent years, feral swine, a non-native species, are not only threatening visitor safety and cultural sites, but are also digging up native plants and farmland. In addition, officials say they endanger the native species in the area.
Starting Tuesday, Jan. 21, a collection of government agencies will begin a campaign to reduce the number of feral hogs at the recreational area.
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The USDA will reportedly partner with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and the TWRA to use aerial operations and bait trapping to euthanize feral swine at the recreation area.
One of the hogs’ destructive habits is to “root” into the ground for food. A local farmer described the damage they cause to the land.
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“And if you look at it, they’re rooting up this treated corn. Look right there,” pointed out the farmer. “And if you look right there, these are corn seeds. All the way down. This where they actually stopped right here, and started up again.”
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The feral swine are mostly on the Tennessee side of the border at Land Between the Lakes, with some reported sightings north of the Kentucky border…