The continuing saga about wild hog control (or lack thereof) got more confusing this past December 10^th when outgoing DNR Director Rebecca Humphries signed an order classifying wild hogs as an invasive, exotic and prohibited species.  She took the long-awaited action under Public Act 451, Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act which was amended in 2009 to require such listing of any species that meet certain criteria.  The wild hog, as invasive and destructive as an animal can be, meets all criteria.  So, Director Humphries had to sign the order to comply with state law and to help Michigan prevent more accidental escapes of wild hogs from game ranches and hog-raising facilities.  Because of those escapes, which have occurred over the past ten years, we now have thousands of hogs that are reproducing in the wild and destroying crops, lawns, and natural resources in many areas.

The order’s effective date is July 8, 2011.  The delay is reasonable so as to give the private enterprises time to sell or otherwise use-up the hogs in their inventories.  But surprisingly, the order also contains a detailed description of possible legislation that could be passed before July and negate the order.  This highly unusual language was added to appease certain legislators, the game ranch industry, and members of the state’s Agriculture and Natural Resource Commissions who have supported a regulatory approach rather than the ban required by Act 451.

What impact the order’s language will have is questionable.  Some analysts believe the part about legislation is largely a meaningless, politically-inspired offering to keep those opposing a ban from attacking the 2009 amendments to Act 451.  Others think the language is an intentional and inappropriate attempt to assist legislators in gathering support for a regulatory approach that is contrary to the intent of the 2009 amendments.  The current law (Act 451) is based on the notion that invasive exotic species that meet certain criteria should be kept out of Michigan entirely.  The regulatory approach described in the order would let anyone import and/or keep Russian wild boars and other wild hog strains in our state if their facilities meet legislature-approved standards for fencing and disease controls and they pay regulatory fees.

Previous attempts to work out those standards and fees have failed.  The game ranch/game farm owners and the state regulatory agencies—principally the Department of Agriculture and the DNR—have not been able to agree on a system.  The state is rightly insisting that no more tax dollars be spent trying to control diseases and other problems at the facilities.  Michigan’s citizens have been footing huge bills for monitoring and eradicating disease-carrying wild hogs, and even reimbursing some game ranches for captive wild hogs the state had to come in and kill.

Michigan taxpayers, and especially conservationists, should carefully watch and respond as this all unfolds in the coming months.  Our new governor has called for transparency in decision-making, but unfortunately many citizens are being mislead to think that legislation to “toughen up” the standards at game ranches is what’s needed.  No, what is needed is for the ban on wild hogs signed by Director Humphries to simply go into effect as recommended by the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy and many other organizations.  A regulatory approach would be costly, cumbersome, and risky.  For more information or updates on related issues contact the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy (517-641-7677, email wildlife@miwildlife.org) or the Michigan Pork Producers Association (517-699-2145, email hines@mipork.org).

Dr. Patrick Rusz

Director of Wildlife Programs

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