News Release

Resource Closure for Feral Hog Management

Date: November 14, 2023
Contact: Jon Manchester, 803-647-3964

HOPKINS, SC – Staff from Congaree National Park, USDA APHIS, and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, will be conducting feral hog management work beginning on the evening of Wednesday, November 15, with a heavy focus on areas near the Harry Hampton Visitor Center and Boardwalk Trail. Staff conducting this work will be using firearms, including high-powered rifles. Due to the nature of this work and it taking place in and around areas with typically high visitor traffic, a 24-hour resource closure will be in effect for park facilities and park trails in order to preserve staff and visitor safety while this work is taking place.

Access to frontcountry trails and facilities, including the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, parking lots, and Longleaf and Bluff Campgrounds, will close beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15, and will reopen to the public at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, November 16. Access to all park trails west of the South Cedar Creek Canoe Landing, along with Cedar Creek between Bannister’s Bridge and South Cedar Creek landings will also be closed. No backcountry camping permits will be issued for these dates. Cedar Creek downstream from the South Cedar Creek Canoe Landing will remain open for day paddlers to use.

This work is being conducted due to recent reports and observations of increased feral hog activity in areas that see heavy visitation on a regular basis. Recent reports and observations indicate that some feral hogs have potentially become habituated to the presence of humans, resulting in their unresponsiveness to hazing and regularly approaching visitors, behaviors that could lead to visitors being injured.