by Brian New / KENS 5
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kens5.com
Posted on January 6, 2011 at 6:12 PM

Updated today at 8:10 PM

SAN ANTONIO -- With more than 2 million feral hogs in the state, Texas Wildlife Services is exploring a new option to control the hog population: poison them.

Last year, by destroying crops, yards and even golf courses, feral hogs caused an estimated $400 million worth of damages in the state.

So far, efforts to slow the population growth down, such as by hunting and trapping the hogs, have been unsuccessful.

“We are not able to take enough to affect the breeding population," explained Michael Bodenchuk with Texas Wildlife Services.

However, Bodenchuck said they may have found a solution – feed them “HogGone,” a poisonous bait that is fatal within minutes.

“The most important part for us is that it be humane and that it only be delivered to hogs," he said.

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I just don't know about this.

how would they make sure only hogs would eat it.... not a good idea in my opinion

This is why Wildlife Services started testing out a specialized hog hopper this month. The hopper is designed so that only feral hogs can access the bait.

"There's a bar that has to be lifted with a hog's nose in order to gain access to that," Bodenchuk said. "It’s very natural for a hog to do that, very unnatural for any other animal. A raccoon couldn't do it if it wanted to."

Bodenchuk said the hoppers will be tested with non-lethal bait for several months before Wildlife Services seeks approval to use poisonous bait.

David

it's great that only a hog can get it open, by looking at the video i agree with the guy that a coon couldn't get it open. I think the door's too heavy and awkward for them. My only concern is what happens whan a hog only eats half a pellet of poison and leaves the rest on the ground or drags a bunch out off the hopper and doesn't eat it all. I don't like it either.

I read some of the comments below the video. One commentor made sense. What happens to animals, especially Bald Eagles that eat the poisoned meat. Or God forbid someone shoots one shortly after it has eaten the poison,take it home and feeds it to his family? Too many what ifs. It may not be for public land use,but a private landowner should be able to do it if he chooses. Just bury or burn any carcasses that he finds as soon as he can.

By far one of the worst ideas I have ever heard. Why is it that land owners are letting the USDA test poison that kills wild hogs on their land, but I can't find one land owner who will let me come onto their land to hunt pigs? Something here doesn't make sense.

of course, the door to the hopper would NEVER malfunction and stick open, or a hog would never drag out more pellets than it could eat and just leave them lay around.

There is a reason this has not been done. Bad idea all the way around.

Bad idea to leave poison out that would kill anything that ate it and there is no way to have complete control on what eats it. What happens to the animals that eat the poisoned pig? Bad, bad idea.

hundreds of folks that would like to hunt and we want to lay out tax dollars for it

What if they could feed them some type of birth control, instead of poison?

Lead'll do it. Can't argue with the fact that hundreds of good,experienced hunters sit in their recliners every saturday morning watching the outdoor channel, wishing they were hunting because they have nowhere to hunt while people complain about an overpopulation of pigs.

Bad idea all the way around! I certainly wouldn't let them on my place with poison, period....

Land owners have been burned by hog hunters time & time again.... If you can build a relationship outside of the desire to hunt, then invitations would be plentiful. Try hanging out at a feed supply store on a sat morning......

or maybe offer a little sweat equity for hunting?

I hope their system works, as intended, and goes in to wide spread use. If I never saw another hog I would be happy.

David

I understand why landowners don't want strangers on there property. I also understand why hunters can't seem to fathom wild pigs being everywhere and no way to hunt them. Somehow we have to make landowners comfortable allowing strangers to hunt there land. It's the only way to put a sizable dent into the problem. I would be curious to know what would have to be done to let a stranger hunt pigs on your land.

Reggie

tort reform