Hard-to-eradicate ‘super pigs’ in Canada is threatening US

[Stugotz]

https://apnews.com/article/wild-pigs-feral-swine-canada-minnesota-border-e59a542efb3c64d5f4b136fc137b7665

[Jackpine Savage]

About 15 years ago we had a pig outbreak here on the farm. I was out working on the shooting range and looked towards the end of it and thought I saw a bear. I just happened to have a range finder at hand and took a closer look and it was a dark colored pig. The next thing I see is a bunch of little ones right behind her.

We did some scouting and found where she had knocked down a bunch of my renters corn. I loaded up my Marlin 45/70 and was lucky enough to get close enough for a shot. We hauled her over to Miltona Meats and got some tasty bacon and sausage.

So that left a bunch of little ones. We were out for walk and discovered them sleeping in a pile in the sun. I snuck up on them and managed to grab two by the legs. Wish I would have had a net. I was able to do that one more time and we raised and butchered four more of them. We shot two more and the rest survived until deer season.

I'm guessing the sow escaped from a nearby Amish farm. It's amazing how well her and the litter survived. l hope they get them controlled. They do a lot of damage.

[crbutler]

The biggest issue with eradication is the unwillingness to acknowledge that it is both unpopular and going to cause bykill issues.

Hunting isn’t a 2-3% effectiveness situation. Hunting in the NA tradition (licenses, fair chase, property rights) may be that way, but use of NV equipment in a free fire/ paid bounty situation is much more so… and as with wolves in the past, poison will work.

The DNR just doesn’t want the huge bykill that widespread use of poison would cause- basically all carrion eating species- and large drops in game species.

Corral Traps and net guns? Those will not be any more effective than shooting.

[Markemp]

The biggest issue with eradication is the unwillingness to acknowledge that it is both unpopular and going to cause bykill issues.

Hunting isn’t a 2-3% effectiveness situation. Hunting in the NA tradition (licenses, fair chase, property rights) may be that way, but use of NV equipment in a free fire/ paid bounty situation is much more so… and as with wolves in the past, poison will work.

The DNR just doesn’t want the huge bykill that widespread use of poison would cause- basically all carrion eating species- and large drops in game species.

Corral Traps and net guns? Those will not be any more effective than shooting.

If unlimited unlicensed hunting was effective against wild pigs, Texas wouldn't have a single one left. You can shoot to your hearts content and never have to pay for another pound of bacon ever, and it's still not anywhere near enough.

As with pretty much every problem, the solution is a function of how much you are willing to tolerate for damage versus the amount of money you are willing to spend. And any effective solution is going to have to approach the problem from multiple angles, from extermination hunts, monitoring for outbreaks of new herds, education, regulations for farms where they are raised to prevent accidental releases, and penalties for farmers who release them (intentionally or otherwise). Minnesota has fortunately been effective at preventing this being a big problem, but as always, it's easier and cheaper to spend the money up front than to deal with the problems down the road.

[crbutler]

Property rights.

Some folks refuse access and the pigs have a refuge.

The hunting of pigs makes a lot of folks big money in TX. Those folks don’t want them eliminated.

When’s the last time you hunted there? I was there last year.

Note that the “option” is paid government professional hunters using suppressed rifles with NV often from helicopters.

I believe that has been done in Canada in places.

[Markemp]

Property rights.

Some folks refuse access and the pigs have a refuge.

The hunting of pigs makes a lot of folks big money in TX. Those folks don’t want them eliminated.

When’s the last time you hunted there? I was there last year.

Note that the “option” is paid government professional hunters using suppressed rifles with NV often from helicopters.

I believe that has been done in Canada in places.

So what I'm hearing you say is the solution to the problem is to approach it from multiple angles, from extermination hunts, monitoring for outbreaks of new herds, education, regulations for farms where they are raised to prevent accidental releases, and penalties for farmers who release them (intentionally or otherwise).

[jdege]

So what I'm hearing you say is the solution to the problem is to approach it from multiple angles, from extermination hunts, monitoring for outbreaks of new herds, education, regulations for farms where they are raised to prevent accidental releases, and penalties for farmers who release them (intentionally or otherwise).

Throughout our history and prehistory, our primary means of keeping bothersome wildlife away from our settlements were free-range dogs.

If we repealed our leash laws...

[crbutler]

And allowing folks to shoot pigs.

The comment on it being harder if folks are hunting is a canard.

The other point is that unless you’re willing to accept bykill (poison) you will be unable to eradicate them.

Control? Depends on what you mean by control.

Note that in Europe they control these “super pigs” by legal hunting.

[gun_fan111v2]

Property rights.

Some folks refuse access and the pigs have a refuge.

The hunting of pigs makes a lot of folks big money in TX. Those folks don’t want them eliminated.

When’s the last time you hunted there? I was there last year.

Note that the “option” is paid government professional hunters using suppressed rifles with NV often from helicopters.

I believe that has been done in Canada in places.

So what I'm hearing you say is the solution to the problem is to approach it from multiple angles, from extermination hunts, monitoring for outbreaks of new herds, education, regulations for farms where they are raised to prevent accidental releases, and penalties for farmers who release them (intentionally or otherwise).

More regulations/fines on farmers? Seems like this started with Government’s push and crash of an artificially created market…. Why not have them clean-up the mess they caused?

[Holland&Holland]

Property rights.

Some folks refuse access and the pigs have a refuge.

The hunting of pigs makes a lot of folks big money in TX. Those folks don’t want them eliminated.

When’s the last time you hunted there? I was there last year.

Note that the “option” is paid government professional hunters using suppressed rifles with NV often from helicopters.

I believe that has been done in Canada in places.

So what I'm hearing you say is the solution to the problem is to approach it from multiple angles, from extermination hunts, monitoring for outbreaks of new herds, education, regulations for farms where they are raised to prevent accidental releases, and penalties for farmers who release them (intentionally or otherwise).

Typical socialist who has never hunted or even held a gun.

[870TC]

I can hear the bunny huggers now...if we can just make contraceptives available to the pigs everything will be alright.

[daleamn]

I can hear the bunny huggers now...if we can just make contraceptives available to the pigs everything will be alright.

Minds eye picture of a bunny hugger environmentalist and an aroused boar and a condom...it's not a pretty picture.

[xd ED]

Typical socialist who has never hunted or even held a gun.

C'mon, man...
...Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids