Free ranging feral swine

[Houghton Lake Hunter]

State recommends aggressive action to eliminate feral swine

Michigan's Commissions of Agriculture and Natural Resources have adopted a resolution to take action to prevent a feral swine population from establishing in the state.

At a joint meeting held last week, members cited the nonnative species¿ destructive impact on the environment and threat to animal and public health as key concerns. Feral swine have been reported in 32 Michigan counties, including Roscommon County.

"Our experience with disease in free-ranging animals supports that every precaution should be taken to stop their establishment," said William Moritz, Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division Chief. "The presence of diseased animals would cause economic hardship to both swine producers and the hunting community."

The free-ranging or feral swine populations that exist today are escaped or neglected domestic swine, Eurasian wild boar originating from farms and privately owned breeding and shooting operations.

While the importation and release of feral and cross-bred swine is a felony punishable by a fine not less than $1,000, wildlife and agriculture officials advise that typical penalties are not curbing illegal activity in other states. Currently, there are no provisions in state law for regulatory oversight of the pursuit of swine and at least 40 facilities offer some sort of exotic swine shooting opportunities in Michigan. Further, ownership and ownership responsibility of escaped exotic swine from registered facilities often cannot be established because current law does not require these animals to be tagged with official, unique identification.

"The strong potential exists for feral swine in Michigan to carry and transmit disease," said Dr. Steven Halstead, State Veterinarian. "Aggressive action is needed to protect the state's hard-earned pseudorabies- and brucellosis-free status in domestic swine, as well as to protect the environment and natural resources."

The joint commissions directed the Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources to pursue the following recommendations: + Ban all recreational shooting of swine behind fences. + Depopulate swine from all Michigan Privately Owned Cervid (POC) ranches, game ranches, wild game breeding facilities and other enclosed ranches. + Depopulate and seek indemnity for those swine described above not otherwise shot for profit or sent to slaughter by a determined date. + Prohibit husbandry practices that involve raising swine for recreational shooting (such as wild pigs, razorbacks, piney-woods rooters, Russian and Eurasian boars and crosses) for sale or transfer. + Prohibit the sale, importation, or transfer of swine for the purpose of recreational shooting. + Allow year-round shooting of feral swine as nuisance animals. + Increase fines related to the importation and release of feral swine into Michigan from other states and Canada.

+ Use federal funds to trap, test, and remove feral swine from private property








Found this article in the houghton lake resorter ... there having some problems with there site ...there is another article back from november of 06 it explains the rules set for these problems in roscommon county it states as long as you have any valid " licence" weater it be small game , fishing ,or what ever you can take as many as you want but they must be tested ...ill try to find it and post it..but i say let the hunts begin ! here is a pic of the november hog ...www.hougtonlakefishing.com go to hunting pics check out the buck pole

 

[Tom]

There's no state laws to control them and they want to use federal funds to solve the problem in their state. Haha, seems like that type reasoning is a little off to me. Feral ones are in 30 counties and they think not shooting them will help depopulate them? I don't get that idea.

 

[Houghton Lake Hunter]

Feral Swine Information

State to hunters: Help eliminate feral swine

Wild swine pose threat to domestic livestock,
environment and individuals

Hunters with a valid hunting license of any type are encouraged to shoot feral swine (free-ranging wild pigs).

See counties in red on this map:
Michigan Feral Pig Map(314KB)
Counties where at least one animal has been reported

In states where feral swine have become established, they have caused crop damage, pose a serious threat to the health and welfare of the domestic swine, endanger humans, impact wildlife populations, and impact the environment by disrupting the ecosystem.
Because state law protects domestic livestock that may be running at large, special precautions are necessary to guard the rights of farmers. The following locations had at least one feral pig has been reported: Arenac, Baraga, Bay, Clinton, Cheboygan, Gladwin, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Isabella, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Roscommon, and Saginaw counties. County prosecutors are aware that shooting feral swine in these counties is permitted and any potential owners of the feral swine have been contacted and do not claim ownership.
"We will take aggressive enforcement action to protect the health of legally imported swine used in hunting preserves and to eliminate feral swine from the wild in Michigan", said MDA State Veterinarian Steven Halstead. "Our goal is to safeguard the livestock industry as well as the environment from these unwelcome invaders."
"Hunters, as always, have to be certain of their targets before shooting", said Alan Marble, Bureau Chief of the DNR Law Enforcement Division. "Feral swine are unfamiliar targets to most Michigan hunters, and sportspersons need to make sure they are shooting at hogs and not black bear, dogs, or any other animal."
Because feral swine have the potential to carry diseases which may impact the state's domestic swine industry, MDA and DNR have set up a program to test these animals. DNR biologists at field check stations, in counties where feral swine have been sighted, will help hunters gather tissue samples to be submitted to the state diagnostic laboratory for free disease testing.
While there is no indication that these animals are carrying pseudorabies or any other disease, Precautionary testing will be conducted. Feral swine may also transmit diseases such as brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis (TB) and trichinosis to people and other livestock.
A person field-dressing swine, especially in the Northeastern Lower Michigan TB area, should wear gloves. If the lungs, ribcage or internal organs from wild pigs look abnormal (multiple tan or yellow lumps), the meat should not be eaten. The carcass should, however, be removed from the environment and brought to a DNR field office to prevent disease transmission to other animals.
It is highly unlikely a person will contract bovine TB, brucellosis or trichinosis by eating thoroughly cooked meat of feral swine. These pathogens and parasites are very rarely found, as a precaution however, all meats, including that of feral swine, should be thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 170.6 degrees F.
State law prohibits the release of any species having the potential to spread serious diseases or parasites, to cause serious physical harm, or to otherwise endanger native wildlife, human life, livestock, domestic animals, or property. Intentional release of swine in Michigan is a felony and may be punishable by not less than $1,000.
The law also requires domestically raised swine (including Russian and Eurasian Boars), have a physical examination by an accredited veterinarian to determine the health status before and after importation into Michigan. Proper housing, husbandry, and confinement of the animal must also be determined at the time of importation. Therefore, swine not raised in captivity may not be imported and released anywhere in Michigan.
To help eliminate these pests, the DNR encourages hunters to take any legal opportunity to shoot feral swine. They can be unpredictable when and where they show up. Hunters may not easily get a second chance. (Tip) When shooting a pig, aim for the shoulder or slightly ahead of the shoulder. The vital area of a pig is more forward than a deer



found this article on the michigan dnr site its a lil better than the last one