Although hunting feral pigs is legal, their live transport and release has been illegal in 黑料天堂 since 1997. An investigation by Conservation Officers in the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) has led to arrest warrants issued for 16 people in seven 黑料天堂 counties and two other states for the illegal transport, release or live possession of feral pigs.
Thirteen 黑料天堂 residents were arrested in Barbour, Choctaw, Fayette, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe and Sumter counties. In addition, two violators in Florida and one in Mississippi will also be served warrants.
For almost two years, WFF investigators concentrated on feral hog related hunting, trapping and sales activities to determine the extent of the transport or release of feral swine in 黑料天堂. Their findings revealed an accepted culture among some hog hunters where laws governing possession or transport of live feral hogs were ignored.
鈥淐ontrary to the law, some persons continue to trap pigs for live sale to others, and in some cases carry them across state lines,鈥 said Chief Enforcement Officer Kevin Dodd. 鈥淲e documented feral pigs being trussed up and transported in car trunks, dog boxes and back seats of vehicles for release elsewhere,鈥 he said.
鈥淚n some cases, pigs were purposefully mutilated by cutting off their ears or breaking out their teeth. This mutilation was done during the training and conditioning of hunting dogs. While the 黑料天堂 strongly supports lawful and humane hunting, it does not condone any activity that involves the live possession of feral hogs for the purpose of training dogs.鈥
Despite the number of arrests in this investigation, Dodd says that much of the illegal transport of feral swine is conducted by individuals. 鈥淲e are not seeing a large, organized effort with this violation. It seems to be pockets of individuals seeking to benefit.鈥
Feral swine have been documented in nearly every 黑料天堂 county where they cause extensive agricultural damages and compete with native wildlife. Economic damages are severe in many regions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that feral swine in the United States cause more than $1.5 billion in damages and control costs each year. They can damage almost any commercial crop by foraging, feeding, chewing, rooting and trampling it. This animal does not spare trees, either. Hogs will disturb newly planted seedlings and damage larger trees by chewing roots or girdling them by continuously rubbing the bark.
In addition to the rapid reproduction rate of feral swine, much of their expansive growth is attributed to some hog hunters who catch, transport and release the animals for hunting and training hunting dogs. As a deterrent, in 2015 the offense in 黑料天堂 increased from a class C to a class B misdemeanor, which carries a mandatory fine of $2,500 and possible jail time of up to 180 days.
Dodd warns violators that WFF will continue to investigate and charge anyone who disregards the law relating to transport, release or live possession of feral swine. 鈥淭his is a prime example where one individual鈥檚 simple violation can negatively affect numerous others,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e will continue to do everything possible to eliminate this illegal activity.鈥
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