NPR's Here & Now: Feral hogs are invading Texas suburbs
Texas has a growing feral hog problem. An estimated 3 to 4 million of them live there, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in crop damage. Now, they're moving into suburban areas. Here & Now's Scott Tong speaks with Jay Long, a pig researcher at NRI, about why feral hogs are such a difficult invasive species to control and what strategies exist to combat them.
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Texas Soil and Water Stewardship Week recognizes the vital role of native ecosystems
Texas A&M NRI has partnered with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) and the Association of Texas Soil & Water Conservation Districts (ATSWCD) to highlight Texas Soil and Water Stewardship Week and the importance of voluntary land stewardship in Texas. The statewide campaign is April 26 through May 3, 2026 and the focus this year is "Soil. Where it all Begins."
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An update on feral pig laws and regulations in Texas
Feral pigs now occupy nearly all of Texas, causing more than $670 million in agricultural damage each year while also impacting water quality, infrastructure and wildlife. With few hunting restrictions and a range of available control methods, effective management depends on understanding current regulations, safe practices and coordinated removal strategies.
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Using exclusion fencing to prevent feral hog access at feeding stations
Domestic pigs were introduced into the United States in the 1500s by Spanish explorers as a reliable food source. Those pigs and others brought from Europe and released into the wild established the original population of feral pigs. Today, there are around 3 million feral pigs in Texas that cause significant agricultural damage totaling over $670 million annually, and landowners have reported spending an additional $130 million in control costs.
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Why feral pig management is essential for new landowners
Texas faces a threat that is adaptable, pervasive, and alarmingly expensive: the feral pig (Sus scrofa), known variously as wild hogs, wild boars, or razorbacks. This invasive exotic species has populations estimated in the millions, and the damage they inflict can be severe. A new publication, "Managing Feral Pigs on Small Acreage Properties and Metropolitan Areas," underscores the urgent necessity of modernized feral pig management strategies, especially as Texas rapidly urbanizes.
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Explore the story of Texas through maps in the new NRI store
The Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute (NRI) is proud to announce the launch of its new online Map Store, offering public access to a curated collection of award-winning maps that showcase the people, places, and natural resources that define Texas.
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Lone Star Healthy Streams workshop set June 13th in Bay City
A Lone Star Healthy Streams workshop will be held on June 13th at the Bay City Service Center (2105 Ave. M, Bay City). This event is hosted by the Matagorda County SWCD#316, open to the public. Although the education is funded, there is a $30 registration fee for refreshments and steak lunch.
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Autumn Brings Increased Deer Activity on Roadways
The familiar cadence of football season, pumpkins draped across neighborhoods, crunchy and bright autumn foliage, and a chill in the air... it must be hunting season.
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AgriLife Today: Hibbitts adds herpetology expertise to Texas A&M Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
New role, innovative classes introduce students to reptile and amphibian conservation, ecology
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Extension Publication released on Feral Pigs and Disease Concerns
The Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute (NRI) released a new publication titled “Disease Concerns Associated with Feral Pigs” that covers the science behind the most common and emerging diseases associated with this animal and the way diseases are transmitted.
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