Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Michigan government unleashes armed raids on small pig farmers.

A HUGE +1!!

I don't want feral pigs destroying my state, however it appears obvious that tha Gov has overstepped its bounds as usual. Enforcement would apparently be too difficult so they ban.

No logic except from a 'power grab' from my POV, as per their Federal example.

deer hunting in MI blows so I wouldnt mind a huge big problem to deal with...target rich environment.

Enforcement isn't the MDNR's strong suit. That's why we're coming off a moratorium on baiting; the MDNR couldn't enforce their own laws and keep a CWD infected deer from being imported illegally into the state. They'd rather focus their efforts on fishermen and deer hunters.

PA is in the early stages of having a feral swine problem, primarily several clusters of escaped boars that have been on the loose and reproducing in a few counties. And yes, they escaped from assorted "pay to hunt" places. Some of which have been in business for many years.

Feds tried dealing with them, not much success. Couple of court cases over who is responsible for "feral swine", either the state agriculture department, or the state game commission.

Latest development, is an executive order from the game commission, designed to make hunting/killing boars and any other sort of feral swine, easier (via regulation tweaks) and probably a year round thing, like our current coyote regs.

It also prohibits the importation, breeding and possession of wild boars in PA. Which will basically bring an end to those wild boar shooting [bleep], some of which amount to not much more than paying money and shooting the piggies in fenced areas of less than 50 acres.

Agreed, but the solution is to spread the word that feral hogs are always in season, and maybe even offer ten dollars per feral hog head. The solution ought not be going to people's farms and shooting their livestock because they look like the hogs running wild. Where are we, in the Soviet Union?

The Mi. DNR are ones to "never waste a good crisis." Sound familiar?

We wiped out cougars in the midwest along with bears, wolves, buffalo and pretty much even deer for a long time. Shouldn't be that hard to keep a few pigs under control.

Aren't they the ones who had a problem with some guys beaver dam a few years ago? How did that pan out?

LOL

Lets see now. A cougar will have 1, maybe 2 kittens/yr. Same for a bear or deer. A buffalo will have 1/yr. Wolves are a bit more prolific. Pigs will have litters of 10 to 12 a couple times a year. It will outproduce all the others COMBINED.

plus their much smarter than the others.

The Feral Swine owners were notified quite some time ago, notice how that doesn't even make the article. Here is the notification that was sent out from the DNR.


DNRE Director Signs Order to Make Feral Swine Invasive Species
Contact: Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014
Agency: Natural Resources


Dec. 10, 2010

Department of Natural Resources and Environment Director Rebecca Humphries has signed an order to make feral swine and wild boar an invasive species in Michigan. Humphries gave the order an effective date of July 8, 2011, giving the state Legislature time to enact laws to provide regulations for facilities that currently provide wild boar breeding and hunting. If legislation is not passed to regulate the facilities, the invasive species order will go in to effect, making it illegal to possess wild boar in Michigan.

"Feral swine pose a significant risk to Michigan's wildlife, ecosystems and agricultural resources, and they are a serious disease threat to humans, wildlife and domesticated pigs," Humphries said. "I urge the Legislature to address this issue in 2011. Michigan is in a unique position to address this threat to our natural and agricultural resources by having our legal options aligned, but regulation is greatly needed for us to be effective."

Wild boar breeding and hunting in shooting facilities is unregulated in Michigan, and boars are not listed as a game species in the state. Wild boar are not native to the state of Michigan.

The order lists wild or feral boar/swine/hog, Old World swine, razorback, Eurasian wild boar and Russian wild boar as invasive species. The DNRE estimates that there are at least 65 swine hunting or breeding facilities in the state, and that a vast majority of the feral swine running at large in Michigan are animals that have escaped from hunting or breeding facilities.

A feral swine work group comprised of stakeholders including pork producers and wildlife and conservation organizations, and hunting and breeding facility representatives met over the last few months to make recommendations for regulations for wild boar breeding and shooting facilities, including fencing standards, biosecurity measures, methods of inventory, liability for escaped animals, indemnity, fees to support regulation and penalties for violation. Humphries has urged incoming legislative leaders to take up the recommendations in the form of legislation to regulate wild swine breeding and shooting facilities, and to place a moratorium on the establishment of any new swine breeding or shooting facilities.

Damage caused by invasive swine to important species and ecosystems has been documented in virtually every segment of their range in the United States. Feral swine are particularly disruptive of native wildlife, including many desirable game species in Michigan, such as white-tailed deer, pheasant, wild turkey and ruffed grouse. Feral swine compete with native wildlife for food, including hard and soft mast (acorns and berries), which are often vital for some wildlife species in the winter months.

The disease threat posed by invasive swine to human and animal health through the transmission of disease is significant, Humphries said. A few invasive swine borne diseases to which humans are susceptible include brucellosis, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis, sarcoptic mange, E. coli and trichinosis. Feral swine also carry several diseases that threaten livestock, including pseudorabies, swine brucellosis, tuberculosis, vesicular stomatis and classic swine fever.

Feral swine's rooting behavior degrades water quality by contributing to significant soil erosion, and through the introduction of bacteria, including coliform bacteria, into rivers and streams. Rooting behavior also destroys native plant communities.

Some estimates suggest that invasive swine damage to agricultural crops and the environment conservatively total $1.5 billion in the United States. As opportunistic feeders, feral swine consume a wide variety of crops, including corn, hay, small grains, vegetables, soybeans, tree fruits and berries. In some states, studies have shown that feral swine's rooting and wallowing behavior in agricultural fields can create holes that damage farming equipment and endanger operators.

Wildlife experts from Texas - considered the state with the largest feral swine population in the United States - presented information last year to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission about management problems with feral swine. Experts told the NRC that there are no practical or economical management techniques that can adequately control the spread and negative impact of feral swine. Through aggressive breeding and high adaptability, feral swine are quickly able to establish populations in a variety of climates and ecosystems, they said.

"The state lacks the financial and human resources needed to control this species," Humphries said. "Other states have spent millions of dollars on trapping, shooting and other measures to control feral swine, and have admitted it is a losing battle."

Feral swine have been sighted in nearly every county in Michigan. For information about the feral swine issue, please go to www.michigan.gov/feralswine.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment of the state's environment, natural resources, and related economic interests for current and future generations. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/dnre.

[b]Michigan DNR responds to allegations of 'armed raids on pig farmers'[/b]
Published: Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 6:50 AM Updated: Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 8:44 AM
By Cory Olsen | colsenmlive.com

Feral pigs are considered an invasive species by the Michigan DNR.

LANSING, MI -- Allegations made on a website have called into question the tactics of Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel in their enforcement of the Invasive Species Order in Michigan.

NaturalNews.com editor Mike Adams contends the DNR "has, in total violation of the Fourth Amendment, conducted two armed raids on pig farmers in that state, one in Kalkaska County at Fife Lake and another in Cheboygan County.
"Staging raids involving six vehicles and ten armed men, DNR conducted unconstitutional, illegal and arguably criminal armed raids on these two farms with the intent of shooting all the farmers' pigs. ..."

The Invasive Species Order, or ISO, was issued in December 2010 and went into effect on April 1, 2012, and states that possessing live species of wild boar, wild hog, wild swine, feral pig, feral hog, feral swine, Old world swine, razorback, Eurasian wild boar and Russian wild boar are prohibited.

DNR public information officer Ed Golder said allegations of conservation officers being involved in "armed raids on pig farmers" are just not true. "There was one instance where the (conservation officers) asked to inspect a site on April 1. The owner denied access to the officers and told them to get a warrant," Golder said. "The officers returned on April 13 with an administrative inspection warrant."

Golder said the administrative inspection warrant isn't a criminal warrant, it just allows the officers to inspect the premises in a reasonable manner.
The DNR website says conservation officers are "fully commissioned as state peace officers with full power and authority to enforce Michigan's criminal laws." And, yes, they can carry guns.

The conservation officers found no invasive feral swine at the location, dead or alive, Golder said, and he disputes the notion that officers shot or forced anyone to shoot their swine. "The DNR has not fired one shot or killed one pig while enforcing this order," Golder said. Golder said the DNR worked with many farmers and ranchers in the months leading up to the April deadline to help them find out-of-state buyers for their feral swine.

He said 15 months was plenty of time for farmers and hunting ranches to come into compliance with the law. "Enforcement thus far has gone very well," Golder said. "Almost all the places we've visited are in compliance and have been very cooperative."

The DNR decided to act on the swine, a non-native animal to Michigan, after seeing a rise in their numbers. The DNR says that by the end of 2011, more than 340 feral swine had been spotted in 72 of Michigan's 83 counties, and 286 have been reported killed. A feral swine sow can have two litters a year of 4-6 piglets. Based on their breeding practices, the DNR estimates that feral swine currently could number between 1,000 and 3,000 in Michigan. "The whole rationale is that these are invasive species, just like Asian carp." Golder said. "This is an Asian carp with legs and they pose a threat to Michigan's natural resources."

Golder said the swine are known to be carriers of pseudo-rabies, which is often fatal if transmitted to other wild and domestic animals. That raises serious concerns for the state's farmers and livestock owners. "It's mostly a risk of disease to livestock but these animals are very aggressive," Golder said.

The DNR website describes feral swine as "dangerous when cornered or threatened. They can become aggressive and charge and attack humans. They move with great speed and can cause serious injuries with their tusks." "In addition we're concerned about the damage they'll do to game birds, fawns and other smaller animals," Golder said. "They also tear up farm fields and crops."

Invasive Species Order

By authority conferred on the Department of Natural Resources by section 41302 of the Natural Resources Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended, MCL 324.41302, and Executive Orders 2009-45, 2009-54, 2011-1, and 2011-2, and in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, the Invasive Species Order shall read as follows :

40.1 Short title.

Sec. 40.1 (1) This order shall be known and may be cited as "the invasive species order."

History: Iss. Dec. 3, 2009.

40.2 Meanings of words and phrases.

Sec. 40.2 (1) For the purposes of this order, words and phrases defined in part 413, transgenic and nonnative organisms, of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, as amended, MCL 324.41301 to 324.41323, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

History: Iss. Dec. 3, 2009.

40.3 Prohibited species list.

Sec. 40.3 (1) Prohibited species are listed in part 413, transgenic and nonnative organisms, of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, as amended, MCL 324.41301 to 324.41323.

History: Iss. Dec. 3, 2009.

40.4 Additional prohibited species.

Sec. 40.4 (1) Possession of the following live species, including a hybrid or genetic variant of the species, an egg or offspring of the species or of a hybrid or genetically engineered variant, is prohibited:

(a) New Zealand mud snail (potamopyrgus antipodarum).

(b) Wild boar, wild hog, wild swine, feral pig, feral hog, feral swine, Old world swine, razorback, eurasian wild boar, Russian wild boar (Sus scrofa Linnaeus). This subsection does not and is not intended to affect sus domestica involved in domestic hog production.

(c) The department shall consult with staff from the Michigan department of agriculture on the development of a phased compliance protocol for the implementation of this section.

History: Iss. Dec 3, 2009; Am. 1, 2010, Eff. Jul 8, 2011; Am. 1, 2011, Eff. Oct 8, 2011.

Compiler�s Note: The Director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources executed an Order on August 8, 2011, extending the effective date for only Sec. 40.4 (1b) to October 8, 2011.

Part of the problem is the way the law is worded...

Domestic hogs, gone wild, are wild hogs... and not feral hogs.

Free range hogs, aka wild hogs, are not feral hogs.

There is a distinct difference. Just look at them!

It all has to do with the genetics. Yes they are very similar, genetically, but there are some major differences too.

Yeah, that's right. Don't waste your time coming to Michigan to hunt. There's no deer here.

Nope none whatsoever. Dad live in SW Michigan.