One thing we can all agree on is that Texas has a feral hog problem! What Texas hunters, farmers and ranchers can’t always agree on is how to control them. This has recently come to a head with the approval of a poison to kill feral hogs by Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Sid Miller.
Almost 6 years since Texas passed a bill to allow feral hogs to be shot by licensed hunters from helicopters, feral hog populations are still on the rise costing the agriculture industry up to 50 million dollars a year in damages. Feral hog populations can multiply by 18-20 percent per year, making this a constant battle for landowners. The idea behind the “helicopter bill” was to shift the expense from the landowner to recreational shooters who would pay for the helicopter experience to kill off the hogs. Thus getting rid of your hogs for free.
Since 2011, the feral hog problem in Texas has reached its highest levels with an estimated 2.5 million animals. Agricultural Commissioner and helicopter bill approver Sid Miller announced that he is approving a new strategy to deal with feral hogs: poison. Called “Kaput Feral Hog Lure” it is a human blood-thinner that proves lethal in hogs. “They’re so prolific, you can’t hardly keep them in check,” Miller told the American-Statesman. Sows have been known to produce two litters a year, typically with four to six offspring in each litter. “This is going to be the ‘hog apocalypse’, if you like: If you want them gone, this will get them gone.” The product is essentially bait food laced with warfarin.
This has caused concern among Texas hunters, as state officials have downplayed the threat of the poison to other wildlife. Hunters have collected more than 12,000 signatures to oppose the poison. Hunters are concerned with the poison being consumed by other wildlife in Texas, notably black bears who can get into the hog traps that will have bait food, other animals that could eat the bait that the hogs drop, and native animals like coyotes who could eat the poisoned carcass of a hog. Miller seems confident that the hog poison will be the answer to the overwhelming feral hog infestation. The question is, at what price to our other wildlife?
Texas Department of Agriculture has put out a Fact Sheet to address the high volume of questions.
Out of opposition the Texas Hog Hunters Association put out the following statement, encouraging people to sign a petition and support their organization
MAR 1, 2017 – “We are pushing forward and gaining ground, we are planning to move forward and head to Austin to Lobby the State Legislature. As many of you know we are a grass roots organization and funding is very tight, we will obviously have expenses occurred with this so if you have the ability to help financially support this fight we would be most appreciative. There is now a donate button on our website at www.texashha.com if you are able.”
This hog-wild debate is far from over! Follow our blog and subscribe toBucks to Business Podcast to stay up to date on current issues effecting Texas Landowners.
Go get em!
Sources:
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/state–regional-govt–politics/sid-miller-approve-new-technique-for-killing-feral-hogs-poison/2vnQ1A9Bdn2aichF58ZRPJ/
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/us/13ttporkchopper.html
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/02/21/hunters-fight-so-called-feral-hog-apocalypse-in-texas.html