Wild Hogs Focus of Fall Events

The Michigan Wildlife Conservancy held two free educational events in September 2008 aimed at increasing awareness about our state's growing problem with wild hogs. The organization is bringing in Dr. John Mayer, of South Carolina, to help address issues related to the rapid spread of the animals, which officials now believe are found in at least 60 Michigan counties.

Dr. Mayer is perhaps the nation's foremost expert on wild hogs. He will speak in the Midland area on Saturday, September 13 at the Chippewa Nature Center at 3:30 p.m. and at the Conservancy's Bengel Wildlife Center in Bath northeast of Lansing on Sunday, September 14 at 3:00 p.m. Dr. Mayer will also meet with wildlife and agricultural officials at the Bengel Wildlife Center on Monday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m. Dr. Mayer has studied wild hogs in the U.S. for more than 30 years. He notes that for quite a while the number of states with free-roaming wild hogs held at 19. But since 1990 the number has jumped to 32.

Nationwide, feral hog damage to crops, lawns, fences and natural habitats has been conservatively estimated at $800 million annually. And the wild hogs can spread diseases to domestic pigs.

The DNR and Department of Agriculture have issued joint press releases encouraging any hunter with a valid hunting license to shoot any kind of feral swine in more than 50 Michigan counties. But a state working group says legislation is needed to allow more effective controls. Wild boars are escaping periodically from commercial hunting preserves and other private facilities where hog keeping is essentially unregulated. Agricultural officials are especially worried because undocumented wild boars are being imported from other states.

"The Michigan Wildlife Conservancy thinks it is very important that citizens learn about this very serious issue," said the organization's President, David Haywood of Lansing. "It will be impossible to control wild hogs at this stage without the help of the Michigan public."

For information about the September events or Michigan's wild hog problem, contact the Conservancy at 517-641-7677 or email wildlife@miwildlife.org.