A quick scan of my hog news this morning shows that the battle against feral hogs is still running hot. Depending on whose statistics you rely on, feral hogs are now present in at least 35 states. There’s a fair bet that several more have pigs that are either unreported or still in small enough numbers to avoid detection.
Feral pigs have been reported in Illinois since the 1990s, but there hasn’t been a lot of noise about them. I’d expect that, with the reputation for big, plentiful whitetail deer in that state, not to mention the huge agricultural interests, there would be a much more vocal response. That’s not to say that all is quiet on the Illinois front. As I read in this article from the McDonough Voice online, the Prairie State is working on solutions.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are trying to get a handle on just how many feral swine are in Illinois so control measures can be developed.
So far, feral swine have been confirmed in 14 Illinois counties, including Christian and Sangamon, although officials suspect they are present in as many as 18 counties.
…
New rules are in the works, but it will be at least a 100-day trip through the administrative rules process once the regulations are drafted.
The first order of business, Buhnerkempe said, is to work with landowners to locate and begin controlling feral swine.
“We have to take on this problem right now,” he said. “Or we could be faced with something much more serious in five, 10 or 20 years from now if we don’t.”
Any legal firearms owner in Illinois may shoot feral hogs on sight, as long as they have the permission of the landowner.
Phillip Loughlin
–>although officials suspect they are present in as many as 18 counties.<–
Can't be much of a 'problem' if they cannot even confirm their presence.
What does the anit-gun state say about hunting them? Or are they sticking with the Orwellian "begin controlling feral swine"??