Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Wild pig elimination under way

Wild pig elimination under way

Feb 07, 2008 - 04:06:27 CST

By RICHARD HINTON
Bismarck Tribune

The bait piles are out and the remote cameras are in place as an effort to eradicate wild pigs in the Turtle Mountains continues.

"We're still in that mode of trying to determine locations, and we're trying to get word out for landowners to contact us or Game and Fish if they see hogs," Phil Mastrangelo, state director for USDA Wildlife Services, said Wednesday.

Whether stray domestic pigs, introduced Eurasian wild boars or hybrids, the feral pigs aren't wanted in North Dakota, and officials in states coping with pig problems have told North Dakota to eliminate the pigs immediately or risk long-term problems with an uncontrollable population.

Problems with feral pigs range from their potential to transmit diseases to their rooting and wallowing that lead to soil erosion and degradation of water quality. The pigs also compete with native wildlife for food, destroy wildlife habitat, and prey on ground-nesting birds and small and young mammals. Wild pigs also are hardy, resilient and prolific.

Because the area is a patchwork of public, private and tribal land, Mastrangelo is continuing to talk to tribal officials of the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation about crews working on tribal lands.

There have been no reports of pigs on the reservation, however, Mastrangelo said.

Wildlife Services is spearheading the task force, which is made up of state and federal agencies: the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, North Dakota Department of Agriculture's Board of Animal Health, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the University of North Dakota.

One wild-pig population in the Badlands already was hit this summer, and it is believed to have been eradicated.

Wildlife managers will trap the pigs and use agency sharpshooters to remove pigs once they are located.

"We will rely on reports from landowners. If they spot hogs, we will take action," Mastrangelo said.

(Reach outdoor writer Richard Hinton at 250-8256 or richard.hinton@bismarcktribune.com.)

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Comments

catahoula cur dog wrote on Apr 17, 2008 9:23 PM:

" these pigs will produce litters in the neighborhood of 12 piglets per litter 4 times a year and a sow is fertile around 6mos. they inbreed, crossbreed any kinda breed you can think of. nodak better get a bounty on those pigs and better get a move on. pigs will eat a small child, an old person, your pet, anything that it wants and can get on the ground. "

MamaMia wrote on Feb 14, 2008 11:32 AM:

" Bibbity bobbity BACON! "

Homer wrote on Feb 14, 2008 8:35 AM:

" mmmmmmmm.....bacon "

harpua wrote on Feb 14, 2008 3:00 AM:

" i like bacon... "

glsges wrote on Feb 13, 2008 9:48 PM:

" why don't they catch some of the pigs,& test them for diseases?? If they are sick,
of course,exterminate! If not put a hunting season on them,to sell hunting permits
This should make the public happy,as well as the GFD,&is more humaine than
extermination.Money,& food!!! "

Law wrote on Feb 13, 2008 8:53 PM:

" You gotta be kidding me? Why would the gf plant pigs in ND? Show me, your ignorance and hatred are showing everyone what a buffoon you are. The mountain lion population is growing on its own, no need to plant lions. Where did they get all these lions? Where did the money come from to transport them here?
I saw a lion in Morton Co. in 1987, did the GF plant that one. Time to quit with the conspiracy theory that GF is out to screw ya. "

Diggs wrote on Feb 13, 2008 3:28 PM:

" if mem serves -- yes, that was a wild boar. Most likely it did wander down from Canada because the were no known owners of wild boar in ND. The problem in the Turtle Mts are domestic pigs that got loose and now roam the area ripping up habitat. "

if mem serves wrote on Feb 13, 2008 12:03 PM:

" If I am recalling correctly wasnt there a wild boar killed by Stanton or around that area a couple of years back? And I belive The G&F explination was that it came out of Canada. Got to love that ND G&F. "

show-me wrote on Feb 13, 2008 10:39 AM:

" Diggs these pigs make rabbits look like they are on birth control.
If these wild pigs carry all the dieseases the GF say they do how come they are so healthy and reproduce in the wild so rapidly?

http://www.boartuffoutdoors.com/ Pig hunting is big bussiness you might want to read this. All those agencies have not gotten all the pigs 111111111111 "

diggs wrote on Feb 13, 2008 9:22 AM:

" Show Me: Sorry no specific names & I totally agree that the rest of us shouldn't have to pay. Unfortunately, catching someone is pretty tough. From the information I have seen it would only take two pigs to cause a big problem. Apparently the buggers reproduce like rabbits. "

Show-me wrote on Feb 12, 2008 4:22 PM:

" Diggs Do you have a list of those hog farmers who turned out the pigs?
Why do the rest of the tax payers have to pay to clean them up?
I have run cattle on several ranches in the area these hogs were in
Never saw any hog Sheds. "

Diggs wrote on Feb 12, 2008 3:51 PM:

" Game & Fish introduced mountain lions and pigs -- You have got to be kidding me! The mountain lions did not spring up over night nor were they brought in by a horse trailer in the dead of night. The pigs are a result of those that escaped pens and/or were turned out by their owners when pork prices bottomed out and became to pricey to feed. I have never read such ridiculous posts even on the politics articles. Wild pigs are a problem that needs to be dealt with in a serious manner as they are. "

show-me wrote on Feb 12, 2008 11:40 AM:

" What the I agree with you 100% on the eradicition of the pigs. Have you heard what kind of Nos. the FG say there are? How many were taken out in the Bad Lands? Were they trapped live if so where were they taken to? If shot what was done with them? Where DID they come from? "

what the wrote on Feb 12, 2008 10:24 AM:

" I do support the eradication of these wild hogs. But I also wonder if they where introduced by the Game and Fish. because if you belive everything that the G&F tell you then you would also think thet the mountin lions also sprung up over night. a year before they opened hunting seasions they still had the stance that the lions where just passing through. so I do not hold a lot of stock in what the G&F tell us. "

Show-me wrote on Feb 12, 2008 10:04 AM:

" JusrMe, How did these hogs get to the Bad Lands and now in other locations?
BTW I have been around and on West ND for about 50 years, been frost bitten,sunburned there. Not a lot of hog farmers in the area for these pigs to escape from. Did they get there the same way the wolves got to Wy? But the agencys you listed got them all right? What do you think it cost the tax payer for each hog tht was removed? Iam a landowner would like to know. "

JustMe wrote on Feb 11, 2008 5:41 PM:

" Show-Me: As for getting access on land, I believe most of the hogs were found on federal grassland lands, and the rest had more than overwhelming approval from the grazzing association. You have not been around western ND have you... "

Show-me wrote on Feb 11, 2008 5:02 PM:

" JustMe with the GF not taking a stand on this attempt on Landowners rights "Fair Chase" access and imformation might get a lot tuffer to get. You have not been around very many wild hogs have you?

"

Captain Crunch wrote on Feb 11, 2008 4:26 PM:

" FEED THE HOMELESS!! "

JustMe wrote on Feb 11, 2008 3:01 PM:

" I work for one of the agencies in the badlands show-me. My job is dealing with many different problems on the west end of the state, not just the beautiful badlands but a lot of the land around them. From working with the GF and being at many meetings they had on the subject, we feel safe that most if not all of them have been eradicated. If you have such sources that say there are still some in the area, we would encourage you to have these sources step forward and enlighten the agencies of their whereabouts. Land owners and permitees in the area of the last eradication effort were big supporters of the actions, you're help would be much appreciated by all. "

Show-me wrote on Feb 11, 2008 1:53 PM:

" What makes you so sure FG got all of them in the BAD lands There are some local residents that would not agree with that statement at all!!!!!!!!!!!! "

JustMe wrote on Feb 11, 2008 12:56 PM:

" Show-me: Here is a short list of some of the diseases that feral hogs can pass on to not only cattle and livestock, but also humans: pseudorabies, swine brucellosis, tuberculosis, anthrax, tularemia, roundworms, kidneyworms, lungworms, stomachworms, whipworms, liver flukes, trichinosis, bubonic plague, hog cholera, foot and mouth disease. I'm sure you also know that a feral sow can produce 1,000 feral swine in a 5 year period, which means if the NDGF doesn't get a chance to get this invasive species they might never. They already had a successful eradication out in the badlands, ND should hope they do in the turtle mountains too. "

Show-me wrote on Feb 11, 2008 12:38 PM:

" this is from some folfs that I know and hut hogs in a big way BUT this would make way to much sience

Now if these agencies would cover travel expenses for hog doggers we would love to eradicate the problem! Since we can take them alive they could vaccinate them and slaughter professionally to donate to the welfare food banks... We ain't talking no canned ham crap... but the real McCoy smoked ham. complete with a hock to make a second meal of soup! Figure one decent hog would easily provide 4 families with prime dining and our travel money would easily be covered! But politics SUCK! "

Dave wrote on Feb 11, 2008 10:42 AM:

" I would like to shoot a pig. "

AEB wrote on Feb 10, 2008 6:46 PM:

" Wild pigs are terrifying. They should be bred only to star in scary movies. Otherwise, get them the heck out of North Dakota. The only place I want to see wild pigs from now on is in scary movies...and nightmares...except I don't want to have nightmares about wild pigs, so I guess just scary movies then. And maybe the occasional halloween costume.

Seriously, when was the last time you met a wild pig and then later said, "I'm really glad I met that wild pig." They aren't contributing anything to society or to nature except fear...which supports my first argument, that they should be bred only for roles in scary movies. "

Show-me wrote on Feb 10, 2008 6:12 PM:

" Here is a quote from a friend of mine who lives where haogs ate a real problem

All I can say is....."Good Luck"!!! They just had another helicopter crew in here in east Texas this past week. Covered 2 of the larger ranches and killed close to 400, one group had 100 hogs in it alone.

Las tyear this same group killed 300 hogs on the same 2 ranches and we had record floods this past spring. They're here to stay and everywhere else they may make it to as well "

Show me wrote on Feb 10, 2008 4:57 PM:

" Justme I am landowner in ND but live in another state that has a lot of wild pigs. The deer have not goten AIDS or anythihg like that from the pigs here or in ND. What diseases will they give wildlife? I know what they will give dometic swine as I have produced swine for many years. If it smells like BS it usually is. Just because the GF says something I don't believe it all to be facts. USFG turned wolves loose in Wy to eat baby elk,moose,cattle,horses and ect. Now the population has gotten out if control. I don't beieve them for a minute. They need job security and this helps What diseases do this wild pigs give other wildlife.
Skunks,coyotes,foxes and others will spread rabis,distemper, and lice,what do pigs spread, are they a true threat or just a lot of smoke and a way to may sure the USDA and FG boys don't have to get a real job "

JustMe wrote on Feb 10, 2008 2:12 PM:

" Show-Me: Go to one of the meetings from Game and Fish, I'm sure they will be more than happy to give you a list of all the diseases that they carry and transmit to other wildlife. The meeting that I sat in on was worried about the disease that it could pass on to wildlife, but they also went into the ones that can be passed on to cattle, which was one of the big concerns of the eradication out in the badlands. Besides, just because other states have many problems due to farel hogs, does not mean that ND wants all these problems too. You want them so bad, move to a state that has them. "

Show-me wrote on Feb 9, 2008 6:29 PM:

" "frustrated "can you document any diseases that hogs can give deer,elk, or any bovine animal? They can transmit swine diseases. Maybe there are the reason for high gas prices also. There are and have been feral hogs in most of the states for many years,they do a lot of damage, but never have caused a plaque in any other wild game,they just eat the eggs,and will eat the dead. get a GRIP. "

Get Real wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:46 PM:

" For all of you who don't understand why G&F need to bait these hogs in if they don't like the use of bait for hunting, get real. This is not hunting. This is a SERIOUS matter, just look up the damages these pigs cause in other states. Lets support G&F in their efforts and hope they are able to get rid of them. There is far too much at stake to be criticizing them. This has nothing to do with your "right" to "hunt" over a pile of corn... there is much more at stake here. Stop thinking about yourself for once and look at the big picture. "

frustrated wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:37 PM:

" Hey "interesting"...

It's interesting that you do not understand the difference between eradication and hunting. G&F is has NEVER said that they do not support baiting as an aid to eradicate extremely destructive invasive species... only that they have concerns regarding the use of bait and HUNTING. Pigs are diseased ridden animals... maybe they should just leave em out there and let them give your deer TB, brucellosis, or a host of other diseases they carry.... let's see how much you enjoy hunting over your bait then.
"

Show-me wrote on Feb 9, 2008 10:26 AM:

" I now live in a state that has problems with wild pigs and they are very,very distructive and kill a lot of ground nesting birds. They need to be removed.
I have hunted and killed a lot of them. It is so funny that poeple think you put out a few piles of corn you can get them. Do a google searuch and see just what it takes to get rid of them. "

!? wrote on Feb 9, 2008 9:47 AM:

" I am also agreeing with abc and all of the few other that support the pig removel but no matter what we think the animal lovers WILL say we are wrong, so on that note the CDHS should drive up there and round them all up and then pump all kinds of drugs into them and hope that they will be a good pet for some family "

Rebecca wrote on Feb 9, 2008 9:13 AM:

" Couldn't they do a combination of hunting and baiting to eradicate the pigs? Maybe it would help out the Game and Fish if they had some help from hunters. I agree there would be plenty of people willing to go wild pig hunting. "

abc wrote on Feb 9, 2008 7:44 AM:

" I had no idea there were wild pigs in North Dakota. I support their removal. "

show-me wrote on Feb 8, 2008 8:52 PM:

" Allen you think for one minute that those who bait do it just during hunting season?
Many bait year round to keep the game in thier area. Do you really think deer are not being poached now? What do you think those spotlights at night are? "

Allen wrote on Feb 8, 2008 1:08 PM:

" show-me,

Hunters would not likely be efficient because they will go after a pig or two. Not the whole herd, and that means those survivors will become educated and far more difficult to kill.

p.s. What is with the silly talk about other hunters using the bait piles? There are no deer, antelope, elk, moose, or big horn season at this time of year. Any fool out there using these baitpiles for hunting something other than the hogs will be breaking a couple of laws. "

show-me wrote on Feb 8, 2008 9:05 AM:

" "why use tax money for government sharpshooter when there a many well qualified North Dakota hunters who would love the chance to kill a pig for FREE "

expositor wrote on Feb 7, 2008 9:49 PM:

" Don't waste good meat! "

JustMe wrote on Feb 7, 2008 9:24 PM:

" Poison is not exactly something that is going to make them gather in one spot. Food will bringthem together, I don't think they flock to poison piles, and think about the affect it could have on the rest of the environment if any other animals got to it before the pigs?!? Baiting is the only way to do this. "

albert wrote on Feb 7, 2008 8:41 PM:

" Why not be smart and make some money?????? People will pay big money for a hunting permit to shoot a wild pig. The more permits the less pigs. Get smart and use your hunters. If I had to vote for wolves or pigs, I would vote for the pig. "

why1914 wrote on Feb 7, 2008 6:05 PM:

" What are they gonna do with the dead hogs?

I wuld hope that food pantries, homeless shelters or even the prison could get the meat so the hogs aren't wasted "

baiting wrote on Feb 7, 2008 4:01 PM:

" they are baiting for pigs, yes other animals will also come but it is not like they are going to shoot a deer if it is by the bait pile, I am sure the traps are set to catch the pigs, if other animals are caught they would be set free. It is not like baiting during Hunting season like deer and pheasant. "

Show-me wrote on Feb 7, 2008 2:23 PM:

" If they are trying to get rid of 100% of them and baiting is alright because it is just for the hogs Why not just use posion "

JustMe wrote on Feb 7, 2008 1:38 PM:

" Let me clarify how the baiting works. They do surveys and watch where the populations are, put the feed in the area over a period of time to gather them from the area, then kill all of them. This is the most efficient way to herd them together to get all of them. This is not about getting a few, it is a must to kill 100% of them. As for theory that it is going to bait other animals in the area, it won't if the piles are placed in central feral hog locations. They have aggressive behaviors that will keep all other wildlife out of there. Sure, it will be a temptation to animals in the area, but once the hogs move in you won't find them. There is ahuge difference in using baiting to eradicate the hog population and using it for your general hunting purposes. As for there methodoligy of baiting compared to using a helicopter, it is a completely different animal compared to the elk and coyote who are more nomadic, hunting for hogs needs to be done from the ground. You don't hunt deer the same way you hunt pheasant, don't compare eradicating feral hogs to heli-hunting elk. "

Interesting wrote on Feb 7, 2008 1:22 PM:

" In the artical it states that the game and fish is involved. and if they honestly think that baiting is so bad then they should not partake in this activity. I Know that they are trying to eradicat them. But if I wanted to stop an activity I would probably avoid that activity myself. I just fund it funny that they would have a presentation last night on the evils of baiting and then have an articale come out the next day saying that they themselves are baiting. That is just my stance you can find it wrong and I really dont care. "

Show-me wrote on Feb 7, 2008 12:59 PM:

" "Just" The Feral pigs wil be the only thing that is baited in?? "

Just to clarify.... wrote on Feb 7, 2008 12:51 PM:

" For the folks that say that ND Game and Fish should follow their own advice and not bait, you might want to note that the pig culling is being headed by the USDA, not ND Game and Fish. Also, the intent of the baiting is to get the feral hogs to come to places where they can be taken. The whole idea is to encourage them to come to an artificial food source. Can you not understand the difference between baiting for eradication of an undesireable animal population and baiting for normal hunting? "

JustMe wrote on Feb 7, 2008 11:53 AM:

" I will tell you that you wont have to worry about these other animals on these piles if there are pigs on these piles. You will not find these other animals as they are very aggressive. The public is not encouraged to hunt off of these piles as it will scatter the pigs from the groups, which is what they are trying to form, eliminating large groups at a time not just one or two. "

Interesting wrote on Feb 7, 2008 11:16 AM:

" If the game and fish want to outlaw baiting then mabey they should take their own advice and not bait. they are more than willing to hire helicoptoers to fly over to eradicate other animals such as coyote and elk why not do that for the hog problem. How is the corn pile that they dump out to attract pigs any differnt then the corn dumped out to bait deer. But if they feel the need to bait to get these hogs under controle then dont try to tell me that I cant go out and hunt deer over bait and that it causes disease. And if they are not using corn it is still changing the pattern or the "natural tendencies" of the wild animals and causing them to congrigate. These are the exact same things that they are trying to stop in the deer so why is it ok in hogs. I really dont care that they are baiting but I care that they are engaging in an activity that they are telling other people is wrong. "

show-me wrote on Feb 7, 2008 10:36 AM:

" Interesting you know that these bate piles attrack only pigs not deer,coyotoes,or other animals You also know that no one will be hunting off these piles as only pigs will go to them.

Just me I am well aware of what wild hogs do to hay field and nesting birds. "

JustMe wrote on Feb 7, 2008 9:16 AM:

" Show-me: They are not something you want to allow breed and shoot later. They are a lot bigger problem than one thinks. If you want to hunt these animals, go to the other states that are having major problems with them, but keep them out of ND. The disease and damage that they can bring to our existing environment far out-weighs keeping them aorund. Catch them now, and you don't have to worry about their speedy breeding habits, just look at the eradication of the ones in the Badlands. "

Show-me wrote on Feb 7, 2008 8:47 AM:

" there are wild pigs hogs that have escaped frpm farmers in many states just as there are wild cats. The problem is they reproduce rapidly and do a lot of damage.With the end of CRP hunters should be happen that there is a chance to hunt hogs. Hog hunting is very popular in many states. "

Interesting wrote on Feb 7, 2008 7:30 AM:

" "The bait piles are out and the remote cameras are in place as an effort to eradicate wild pigs" This is quite an interesting statement for an agency like the ND Game and Fish that is trying to stop baiting. "

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