Im my daily visit to the Field and Stream Field Notes blog, they’ve posted up an article describing how Mississippi has significantly relaxed the rules for hunters to kill hogs.
As we’ve seen in so many other states, the animals’ population is booming, and they’re becoming a real nuisance. Crop and property damage seem to be the predominant complaints, with people spotting hogs inside city limits and in the countryside. Of course, the public outcry is spurring the state and local authorities to look for solutions.
From the article at WLBT TV’s website:
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks has gotten so many complaints about the wild hogs destroying crops and taking over the countryside in some areas that virtually all of the rules against shooting them have been removed.
“24/7 every day” said Wildlife biologist Chad Dacus. ”They can hunt hogs now at night, during the day, there are no weapon restrictions to hunt hogs, because we in the agency realize how bad of a problem it is.”
There are some people who say so little has been done about the wild hog problem and that the only way to solve it is to start poisoning them. But when you discuss that solution, the animal rights groups become very angry.
As much as I understand and appreciate the concern and frustration of the folks there, I’ve got to agree that poisoning is a bad tactic. I know there are some ways to narrow the collateral damage of a poisoning campaign, but it’s simply too non-specific. Poison tends to find its way to non-target animals, including dogs and cats. It also tends to spread through the food chain.
Trapping is a much better method of control, and a few skilled and dedicated trappers can clear an area pretty thoroughly. It’s seldom a permanent fix, but it’s a lot easier on the rest of the critters in the environment. Folks need to remember to look at the long-term, big picture before they step in to make adjustments to nature. Failure to apply a little foresight is the reason there’s a hog problem in the first place.
Dave W.
I agree that poisoning them isn’t the best solution. Too many other animals may find it in their systems. Trapping is a great way. I don’t wish we had the ‘problem’ of having too many animals, but I do wish we had the opportunity closer to home down here. I may have to round up my family in the southeast and do some hog hunting next year.