Farmer's bane - hunter's boon

Described as being as prolific as cockroaches, destructive as rats and

l County Judge Chris Davis got mad when a herd of 30 wild hogs tore 18-inch gouges into his parents' front lawn recently. Then he decided to get even by setting traps. On the first night he captured two feral hogs, but he wonders about the 28 that got away. as surly as badgers, wild (feral) hogs are the bane of ranchers and farmers, but they're a boon for hunters. Nearly three million of these dirt slingin' critters roam free in Texas, rooting up pastures, wallowing in creek beds and gorging themselves on crops and gardens. Trappers and hunters often are called in to help reduce hog numbers when feral swine run amuck.

For nearly a year, a team of commercial swine and show pig producers, slaughter plant operators, veterinarians, hunt- ers, hog trappers and wildlife biologists have wrestled with rule ideas that would prevent captured wild hogs from creating more chaos, while still giving hunters an opportunity to bag a boar trophy worth bragging rights.

Texas Animal Health Commissioners (TAHC) adopted new policies July 29 in Austin. "The TAHC regulations are limited to disease control purposes," said Dr. Dee Ellis, Texas' assistant state veterinarian and TAHC advisor to the feral swine working group. "We know we can't get rid of feral swine, but we can find ways to deal with the animals so that it benefits all sectors of the industry."

Dr. Ellis said the regulations give trappers greater latitude for holding and moving trapped swine.

Because of limited interest in changing captured feral swine to "domestic" swine, the proposed regulations allow reclassification after a series of three negative blood tests for swine Brucellosis and pseudorabies. This practice is not recommended.

The disposition of feral swine that are not "domesticated" through the quarantine and testing process is limited to slaughter only, except for boars and barrows, which may be moved to TAHC-authorized hunting preserves.

The proposed rules also allow for wild pigs to be held after trapping in an escapeproof pen or enclosure on a trailer for up to seven days before moving the animals directly to a federally or stateinspected slaughter plant, to a TAHC-authorized hunting preserve, or to an approved holding facility, awaiting final disposition.

The rules allow only boars and barrows to be moved to TAHC-authorized hunting facilities with swine-proof fencing at least five feet high. Boars and barrows also would have to be individually identified prior to being placed into the preserve.

Hunting preserve operators need a "Hunting Lease License" and hog hunters need a hunting license, both from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, but there is no season on these animals.

"Strict requirements are necessary to prevent moving an animal that has a potential livestock disease from one site to another," said Dr. Ellis. "Around 20 percent of wild hogs in Texas carry pseudorabies, a regulatory flu-like swine disease not related to rabies. About 10 percent of the feral pigs have swine Brucellosis, the swine form of "Bangs," or cattle Brucellosis."

Dr. Ellis advised domestic swine owners to keep feral swine out of their pens. When purchasing replacement swine by private treaty, ask if the pigs have been exposed to feral swine. If possible, keep the animals isolated until tested for swine Brucellosis and pseudorabies. At livestock markets selling sexually intact swine six months of age or older, these tests are required, and blood samples are collected from the animals by TAHC personnel.

"Each time we detect infection in a noncommercial herd, it puts a hardship on producers, because we must trace animal movement, test herds in a widespread area, and handle infected herds appropriately.

"By adopting regulations that make it easier for trappers to remove feral swine from an area, and place boars and barrows only in a hunting facility. These regulations can benefit swine producers, cattlemen, trappers and hunters, too."

The regulations are available by calling the TAHC at (800) 550-8242, ext 710.