Feral Pigs

[rastamanila 313]

Project To Hunt Feral Pigs

 

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP)-Using the cover of darkness, feral pigs have learned to outsmart even the most seasoned hunters as they set about on their nightly terrors, rooting up crops and suburban gardens, harassing native wildlife and turning watering holes into pigsties.

The invasive porkers have made themselves at home across more than three quarters of the U.S. and are responsible for an estimated $1.5 billion in damages each year. Most worrisome is their ability to learn from each encounter with a frustrated human.

 

Their intelligence, in combination with their ability to mate year-round, is what has enabled wild pigs to evade capture and take over prairies, mountain valleys and rugged deserts from Canada to Mexico.

The wild pig population in the U.S. has ballooned to more than 5 million. In one year alone, federal managers trapped and killed more than 32,000 pigs from 28 states and collected thousands of samples to check for the nearly three dozen diseases feral pigs are capable of carrying and passing on to humans, livestock and other wildlife.

Feral pigs have already taken over Texas and are expanding their numbers in other states, but federal and state land managers think they have a chance to tip the balance in the southwestern state of New Mexico. They're willing to bet $1 million in federal funds on a yearlong pilot project aimed at eradicating the pigs and using what they learn here to keep them from gaining a foothold elsewhere.

It marks the first time the U.S. Department of Agriculture has teamed up with a state to develop a comprehensive plan for getting rid of the pigs.

 

A small army of state and federal employees has been trained to stalk, trap and kill New Mexico's feral pigs. Various techniques have been used by wildlife managers and landowners for decades in the fight against feral swine, but the New Mexico team is focusing on determining what combination works best in which circumstances and how effectively helicopters can be to track the pigs across vast landscapes.

``We're trying to get ahead of the curve with this so we can prevent a lot of the damage that we know will be coming if we don't do anything about it,'' said USDA Wildlife Services state director Alan May. ``Sport hunting pressure alone won't be enough to stop a population from spreading.''

 

Timing is a big part of the project, said UDSA undersecretary Edward Avalos. Hitting the pigs quickly will prevent them from becoming more educated, he said.

Pigs have been known to scope out traps for days before sending in the group's lowest ranking members to test for danger. And if a trap isn't built just right, the pigs will find a way out, either by climbing over each other or squeezing under the fencing.

 

Ask anyone who has had a run-in with feral pigs. The conversation always circles back to intelligence.

 

``They're much brighter than I am,'' said Ray Powell, a veterinarian and New Mexico's land commissioner. ``If they had the dexterity, they'd be driving vehicles around. I mean these guys are really smart.''

The plan calls for building special traps in strategic locations along with stalking the pigs at night.

The team will also be looking to a ``Judas pig'' for help. After trapping a family of pigs, all but one; usually an adult female, are shot and killed. The Judas pig is then fitted with a radio collar or microchip so it can be tracked as it looks for another group of pigs to hang out with.

 

This is important since feral pigs are quite elusive. Rarely seen during the day, they have learned to avoid being taken down by rifles or suckered into traps.

Introduced by Spanish explorers centuries ago, pigs began to expand their range. Hunters complicated matters by importing Eurasian boars to the U.S. for sport. Generations in the wild, the pigs have evolved into ``survivors,'' willing to eat just about anything and capable of traversing some of the most rugged territory.

 

Ranchers and farmers have complained for years about the damage feral pigs can cause, but federal and state officials said the loss of crops, the spread of noxious weeds as the pigs carry seeds to new spots and the stress they put on endangered species and other wildlife is now worse due to a persistent drought that has hammered two-thirds of the country.

New Mexico is embarking on its third straight year of drought, water supplies have dipped to record lows, farmers and ranchers are struggling, and there are now signs of feral swine in 22 of the state's 33 counties.

 

``Here, it's a new problem,'' said Bidegain, who has seen pig numbers in his area grow from zero to nearly 300 over the last two years. ``You research, read stuff on the Internet and watch videos of how other guys are trying to do it. It's almost like you have to stalk them for two months before you figure out how they operate.''

Bidegain has to watch for big potholes left behind by the pigs to keep from damaging his tractor. Nearby, Quay County rancher Bill Humphries said the pigs were responsible for leaving ``bomb craters everywhere'' along a quarter-mile stretch of road on his family ranch. On other ranches, pigs have learned to break the floats in stock tanks to keep water flowing for their mud baths.

 

In Mississippi, peanut farmers often wake to find uprooted plants. In Texas, where there are an estimated 2.6 million pigs, the animals have moved from destroying pastures and crops to tearing up suburban gardens.

Wildlife managers had complained for years about a lack of manpower and money to fight the growing pig problem. Now, they say the pilot program will enable them to systematically take out populations that are centered along the Canadian and Pecos rivers in eastern New Mexico, in the Bootheel and along the Middle Rio Grande, home to thousands of acres of irrigated farmland.

 

Feral pigs are also moving into southeastern New Mexico, where the federal government has been trying to boost the number of sand dune lizards and lesser prairie chickens. Both are on the menu for pigs.

Pig experts say patience is key, and federal wildlife specialist Ron Jones knows this well. He has been stalking pigs in eastern New Mexico since the first group was spotted in Quay County in 2006. He has spent the last few weeks trying to outsmart an older black and white spotted male that's missing half an ear.

 

``I've watched him on the trail cameras,'' Jones said. ``He's got some age on him and he's very educated. He has probably had everything in the book thrown at him.''

[unclejake 428]

Grew up in the everglades on a 58,000 acre ranch and we had more than our share of hogs to deal with. Makes great BBQ! Also good sausage ua just have to add fat. We used to add an armadillo or two to each pig and it tasted great!

[rastamanila 313]

I'm imagining they might make good BBQ Ribs? Why don't people over there hunt and eat them?-If they're such a problem.

[jmzzl 146]

Have been for years. There's even TV shows about it now.

[sccritterkiller 473]

I'm imagining they might make good BBQ Ribs? Why don't people over there hunt and eat them?-If they're such a problem.

We stack em like chord wood every chance we get..

Edited March 19, 2013 by sccritterkiller

[U.S. Pratorean 1,234]

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Edited March 19, 2013 by U.S Praetorian

[menace667 194]

Here in south Georgia, in my back yard we took out 38 last year during rutt season. Most were small piglets and medium sized females with two very large males. The piglets follow the females around so if you catch one of them you usually end up with a brood. The larger males do seem very reluctant to take up free food, and also very intelligent with recognizing and avoiding them.

 

My house and property back up to the river and marsh which they traverse with ease and love the easy travel path. It also provides a place to cool down and eat almost unabated. We have a one way in/ one way out main road and there were several bad accidents when they crossed the road in the dark hours around curves. The damage a large boar does to a car is amazing. Last i heard they were dubbed a nuisance animal and have no season or limit to killing. The Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) has said they are close to epidemic levels here and our population is a out a tenth of the one in TX.

 

They are delicious though....

[Capt Nemo 882]

We have 1 county in WI with them. They're a "shoot on sight" animal along with coyotes here.

[U.S. Pratorean 1,234]

Every county in Texas has them. The population here is 1 million. They may be hunted 24/7, 365 day or night. They are a nuisance as they have no predators except us however I view them as a food source in addition to the whitetail I manage, turkey, quail, dove, cranes and rattlers. At one time they were domestic and if trapped can become so again.

Jake, you may be aware of this already but armadillo do harbor leprosy, exogenously and the pigs can carry brucellosis, systemically. A little common sense when dressing and you'll be alright.

[menace667 194]

Off topis US praetorian, but what do you add to your wild hog for fat? A lot of people here mix in some domesticated pig fat, but to me that changes the flavor too much.

[U.S. Pratorean 1,234]

Off topis US praetorian, but what do you add to your wild hog for fat? A lot of people here mix in some domesticated pig fat, but to me that changes the flavor too much.

Generally I add no fat. That is because one, my dogs eat a great deal of it and two, the majority of meats I eat are usually game. I suppose I should also mention that my diet is that way on purpose since I do P90 6 days a week and I am OCD about exercise and diet. I prefer my foods with no preservatives, drugs, hormones etc. this way I can attempt to limit the garbage that is available for human consumption because I see the effects of the American diet everyday on an operating room table and I don't want to be that way.

Don't get me wrong, we do have cattle, also without drugs or hormones (that's the fat source if used) and all grass fed and if I'm going to imbibe in vices I'd rather have beer, blended bourbon, Russian vodka and an occasional fine cigar instead of bad food. Gotta have a little fun.

[Redhunter2486 22]

Under 100lbs and their still decent eating, some 80 pounders are perfect for the smoker. Much bigger than that and they get gamey, I've known guys to catch the piglets and feed them out, cant tell the meat from domestic

[jerry52 893]

I love to Smoke stuff but after 100 lbs you got to mop, mop, mop

[gunfun 3,931]

US Praetorian- that 4th picture is crazy. Do you eat hogs like that or are they too tough nasty and full of parasites?

 

I plan to do a bit of hog shooting when those become a problem in Eastern WA/ Western Idaho. And when I have time

[U.S. Pratorean 1,234]

US Praetorian- that 4th picture is crazy. Do you eat hogs like that or are they too tough nasty and full of parasites?

Like someone else mentioned, piglets up to 175 lbs are generally the best for human consumption. Those two big boars got quartered and ground into dog food. They generally also are free of parasites as pigs are really rather clean. They wallow in the tanks and the soft mud keeps them cool and insect/parasite free. So they look filthy but clean up OK.

[MT Predator 2,294]

Here in Florida, I know for a fact the feral hogs have lots of parasites and brucellosis. We have a USDA guy that traps and kills hogs on Eglin Air Force Reservation to cull the population. He takes a blood sample from every kill which they test to see what the hogs have. They generally have less bugs in them during the winter months which is a short time around here. They are not the same as domestic pork which are innoculated against things like that so great care has to be taken field dressing them and handling raw meat.

[semper299 284]

People in Texas will pay 50 and up per hog if you come in and kill them. My brother-in-law has about 20 acres, but is surrounded by several hundred acres and the owner pays us to kill the hogs on his land. Doesn't get much better than that.

[U.S. Pratorean 1,234]

Here in Florida, I know for a fact the feral hogs have lots of parasites and brucellosis. We have a USDA guy that traps and kills hogs on Eglin Air Force Reservation to cull the population. He takes a blood sample from every kill which they test to see what the hogs have. They generally have less bugs in them during the winter months which is a short time around here. They are not the same as domestic pork which are innoculated against things like that so great care has to be taken field dressing them and handling raw meat.

Florida has much, much more water, especially the glades region than Texas so it quite understandable on the biologic conditions as well. Exercising common sense while processing and cooking is mandatory.

 

People in Texas will pay 50 and up per hog if you come in and kill them. My brother-in-law has about 20 acres, but is surrounded by several hundred acres and the owner pays us to kill the hogs on his land. Doesn't get much better than that.

I have a guy that will pay $50 a pig under 150 lbs. They take these pigs and process them for the European market primarily the French. Those dumbasses think that it is some exotic cuisine. For that we trap them. Trapping makes much more of a dent in the population. Hunting does not even touch the population.