Feral Pigs Take States by Storm

Feral pigs are a big problem in many states, and while many are escapees from farms, some are actually let loose by hunters. The
GLRC’s Brian Bull reports on how the problem is playing out in one area:

Transcript

Feral pigs are a big problem in many states. And while many are escapees
from farms, some are actually let loose by hunters. The GLRC’s Brian Bull
reports on how the problem is playing out in one area:


Feral pigs have appeared in several states including Oregon, California, Indiana, Illinois
and Wisconsin. Recently they started showing up Minnesota. It was first thought wild
swine might’ve crossed frozen waterways from Wisconsin. Wisconsin wildlife biologist
Dave Matheys says the growing problem is more likely due to hunters using pigs for
hunting practice:


“Some bear hunters who train their hounds, train them on
pigs, and don’t recapture the pig. It escapes, or the hounds aren’t
trained thoroughly enough or they just don’t want to recover it, so
the pig or pigs remain out in the wild.”


Feral pigs damage the habitat of ground-nesting birds, kill
small deer, and despite their shy nature, have even attacked people.
Matheys says the wild pigs are prolific, and eat almost anything, making them hard to
monitor and control. In some states wildlife managers have declared an open season on
the pigs.


For the GLRC, I’m Brian Bull.

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