Unless someone steps up and does something by next week, possession of wild boar will become illegal in the state of Michigan.  That means the state’s game preserves will have to divest themselves of remaining stock (although they’ll still be able to keep their bison, deer, elk, and various sheep and goats).  I’m not sure exactly what the State expects them to do with the animals, although I’m assuming there will be a mass slaughter.   I’m also not sure exactly how, or even if, the State will reimburse the ranchers for the cost of the animals.

I don’t hold out much hope for the ranchers or their customers, but they’ve mounted some legal challenges.

Meanwhile, the hyperbole around the “invasion” of wild hogs has not abated.  In the article that came through my feeds this afternoon, I was treated to the following words of wisdom regarding wild and feral hogs:

From Russ Mason, Chief of the MI Department of Natural Resources wildlife division:

  • “They are Asian Carp with four feet,” Mason said. “They’re good to eat and fun to chase and kill, but beyond that, they’ve got no redeeming qualities at all.”
  • In Florida, according to Mason, “Most of the species on the endangered species list are there because of pigs.”
  • Though pigs are difficult to hunt — Mason said a single gunshot can cause pigs to run and not stop until they’re several counties away — Mason is convinced that if the state acts now, the pig problem can be stopped in its tracks.“I’ve been doing this kind of stuff for 30 years and in no case but this have I ever thought there was the slightest chance of eradicating an invasive species,” Mason said. “The potential exists that, if we can shut off the spigots and get people to shoot them when they see them, we can solve this.”

From state Sen. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake:

  • “They multiply like crazy,” said Kowall. “They have the ability to have between 36 and 50 piglets a year, and once they get a certain size, they have no natural predators.
  • Kowall said there’s been some discussion in the Senate about possibly putting a bounty on wild pigs.  “The amount hasn’t been determined,” Kowall said. “But maybe with a bounty, it would add some interest to go out and clean them out of the area.”

Where do I start?

To begin with, I’ll let the Asian carp comment fall.  It’s a semi-accurate analogy, as far as anyone knows.  The jury may be out on redeeming qualities, but I expect the preserve owners thought the added income of the boar hunters was a pretty nice benefit.

But really… anyone with any sort of background in wildlife management ought to know better than the comment about the endangered species in Florida.  That was just about the most ridiculously ignorant thing I’ve heard in ages, and I follow Facebook.

And as far as eradication… yeah.  OK.  That’s worked so well in every other state with a “pig problem”.

Then there’s Senator Kowall… well, I don’t expect much better from a politician.  But 36 to 50 piglets a year?  What the hell are they feeding the pigs in Michigan?  Even under the most ideal conditions, it’s hardly likely to see half that many from a single female.  Sure, they’re fecund as all get out, but let’s not get carried away Mr. Kowall.

And the bounty idea should really piss off some folks.  See, some of the more reasonable voices in this discussion have called for more stringent regulation on the game preserves as an alternative to shutting them down.  The ban proponents, however, have claimed that the State can’t afford to implement and enforce new regulations (at an estimated cost of around $450K).  The State has also been doing research and studies to evaluate hog damage for over 10 years (research, which, by the way, indicates that the actual number of hogs in the state is nowhere near the official estimates of 3000-5000 animals… and I have yet to see reports or figures detailing any actual damage to property, livestock, or public resources).

Is there money for this problem or isn’t there?  What’s the best use of that money?

But really, if the logic I’ve read in these statements (and others from similar sources) is the root of the wild boar ban in Michigan, it doesn’t bode well for those who’d like a reasonable or logical outcome.  It may seem a strange idea, but what about basing laws and regulation on fact and science, rather than speculation and ignorance?

Good luck to you folks in Michigan.

Related Posts