Michigan Wildlife Conservancy

Our coalition, made up of the Agricultural Leaders of Michigan, the Michigan United Conservation Clubs and the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, respectfully urges you to let stand an existing state order banning feral swine as an invasive species.

We greatly appreciate and applaud your leadership and your commitment to making agriculture a priority in your administration. Michigan agriculture is proud and honored that we can help provide solutions to our state’s economic challenges, by continuing to invest in our state, compete in trade and create local jobs.

We also applaud your leadership on issues affecting conservation, wildlife and natural resources, and we are eager to continuing being your partner on this front.

For our coalition, fighting feral swine is a key priority because of the significant damages and diseases they can inflict and spread. Feral swine represent a real threat to agriculture and the jobs we create. They also destroy native wildlife and plants, and devastate natural habitats.

We are united and steadfast in our opposition to any plan that would lift the state order, Department of Natural Resource’s Invasive Species Order 2010-1, banning feral swine.

Scientists, veterinarians, conservationists and wildlife experts all agree that feral swine can cause major damages to fields, crops and property. They eat native wildlife, compete for food with native species and damage native plants and forests – all of which impact not only our natural resources, but also local businesses that depend on tourism and a healthy outdoors. Feral swine also spread diseases that can harm livestock, affecting Michigan’s dairy sector, which employs 26,500 people, and pork industry, which generates $500 million every year. Scientists also agree that the best way to stop this problem is by banning feral swine and eradicating them.

Feral swine are prolific breeders with no natural predators. Wildlife experts warn that wild hogs represent the most serious challenge to wildlife, habitat and natural resource management today. Experts estimate that more than 2,000 feral swine now run wild in Michigan. We must stop this species now before they become an irreversible, full-blown epidemic, which will be catastrophic to Michigan’s natural resources and our agricultural sector, which employs more than 1 million people.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, invasive feral swine cause more than $1.5 billion in property damage nationally. In fact, 35 states have declared them an invasive species.

We also hope you will understand that our adamant support for the order banning feral swine is not motivated by a wish to target shooting facilities. We do NOT want to harm game ranches in Michigan that play by the rules. This issue is about protecting Michigan agriculture and our natural habitats. It is about putting people ahead of an imported invasive species that must be stopped now.

Sound science tells us that banning feral swine is the best way forward, not regulations.

Regulations will not work against fast-breeding invasive species. Furthermore, “regulating” feral swine would cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars every year in monitoring, inspections and other activities at a time when Michigan is struggling to provide even basic essential public services. In addition, if these escapees spread a disease to one of our commercial livestock herds, the prevalent method of controlling diseases is through destruction of herds – which will further cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars per incident in indemnification costs.

We note that many Michigan citizens have publicly written in support of the feral swine ban. A growing list of major newspapers have also editorialized on this issue, supporting the ban on feral swine, including the Detroit Free Press, the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, the Port Huron Times Herald and the Kalamazoo Gazette. In addition, columnists with conservation, agricultural, hunting and veterinary backgrounds have publicly written and called for the ban to stand.[1]

Agricultural Leaders of Michigan, the Michigan United Conservation Clubs and the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy recently stood together in support of Sen. Rick Jones of Grand Ledge when he announced on June 14 that he is introducing legislation to make the feral swine ban state law. This is good, sound, science-based policy.

By letting stand the DNR’s Invasive Species Order, you will help protect Michigan agriculture, Michigan’s natural resources and wildlife, property owners and tens of thousands of local jobs.

We greatly appreciate your leadership on agricultural and conservation issues, and respectfully request you allow the state order banning feral swine to stand.

[1] Midland Daily News, March 6; Oakland Press, March 22; Detroit Free Press, April 10, April 17 and May 1; Lansing State Journal April 29; Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, May 9; Battle Creek Enquirer, May 15; Paw Paw Courier Leader, May 16; Kalamazoo Gazette, May 20; Port Huron Times Herald, June 3; Kalamazoo Gazette, June 16.