Trying to avoid the aporkalypse in New York
Over at the Watershed Post, Lissa Harris has an interesting article about the simmering wild boar problem in New York State -- and the escalating efforts to keep it contained:
[I]t might not be too late for New York, according to the handful of state and federal regulators whose task it is to try to keep feral swine from getting established in the Empire State.
From Jan. 28 through Feb. 7, a helicopter crew from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is surveying several areas known to be home to feral swine, including part of Delaware and Sullivan counties. If they spot any feral pigs on land they are surveying, and if the landowner has already given them permission, they will shoot the animals from the air.
Kelly Stang, wildlife biologist for the New York State Department of Conservation (DEC), said that to her knowledge, it's the first time in New York State history that government officials have set out to hunt animals by helicopter. But the USDA crew has flown similar missions all across the East Coast.
The main purpose of the helicopter flights is not to hunt the hogs, but to find out more about the wily animals and their movements across the landscape. With trees bare and snow on the ground, torn-up ruts in the earth left by foraging swine should be easier to spot.
"The crew that's doing it, all they do is aerial operations," Stang said. "The main goal is to survey -- to see if we can find any from the air, where are they, how many. If they do have the opportunity to shoot them, they will take that shot."
Most of the feral pigs in New York are Eurasian boars brought here to be hunted. It's now illegal to bring them into the state or breed them. And in 2015 it will be"illegal to possess, sell, distribute, trade or transport Eurasian boars in New York."
Feral pigs are causing significant problems in other states -- especially in Texas, which has apparently been fighting a losing battle in the "aporkalypse." A few years back it was estimated that wild pigs were causing $400 million in damages annually.
Earlier on AOA: Wanted, dead or live: feral pigs
photo: NYS DEC
Hi there. Comments have been closed for this item. Still have something to say? Contact us.
Comments
Dear people of New York,
Just a reminder: bacon comes from pigs. Just a suggestion: feral bacon.
Thank you, and have a nice day.
... said ethan on Jan 29, 2014 at 4:10 PM | link
So, the anti-crow people have gotten into the boar business? Figures.
... said Rob on Jan 29, 2014 at 4:34 PM | link
@Ethan: No more government pork!
... said D on Jan 29, 2014 at 8:30 PM | link
That's all we need - jackasses shooting wild pigs from helicopters.
... said Ron on Jan 30, 2014 at 10:20 AM | link
Incredibly dumb and uninformed statement Ron. These animals are tremendously destructive to an ecosystem if they take hold. It's not like someone is offering free helicopter rides to take potshots at them, these are professional animal control people working in conjunction with the NYSDEC.
... said Kevin on Jan 30, 2014 at 11:59 AM | link
Do you mean the same NYSDEC where they had to be specifically told not to bring their children to work?
... said Ron on Jan 31, 2014 at 11:37 AM | link
I don't think calling someone's statement "incredibly dumb" is in alignment with AOA posting guidelines - re: "be kind". Just saying.
... said Gerald on Jan 31, 2014 at 12:33 PM | link