(Missourinet) – The Missouri Department of Conservation says about 3,000 feral hogs have been eradicated this year.

Conservation Department Deputy Director Aaron Jeffries told the Missouri House Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources on Thursday that Conservation is working with agriculture groups.

“Two weeks ago, our ag liaison went down to southeast Missouri with several folks from the ag community, from ag groups as well as conservation groups, the folks that actually provided funds to buy the new traps,” Jeffries said. “They went down and saw the traps in action.”

Jeffries says they caught 12 hogs that day. Jeffries says blood samples from the hogs were taken to test for disease.

The Conservation Department says it will take years to control feral hogs. State Rep. Craig Redmon (R-Canton), who chairs the Committee, asked Jeffries about the issue during the hearing.

“Representative, this is a long-term battle,” Jeffries said. “In any case of an invasive species when it’s out on the landscape, it’s going to take years to control.”

Jeffries says Conservation is also working with private landowners.