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      You are here: Home / Nature / Feral Pigs in the Adirondacks

      Feral Pigs in the Adirondacks

      August 27, 2013 By Editorial Staff 2 Comments

      Feral swine adults and piglets
      Feral swine adults and piglets (Credit: NYDEC)

      It’s time to reexamine our previous post, “Feral Pigs in Champlain Valley,” with an update on the situation in the Adirondacks.

      Feral pigs (feral swine/wild boars/razorbacks/wild hogs–whatever you call them) have made their presence known locally in New York State.

      Feral pigs have established a breeding population on the eastern edge of the Adirondack Park. Scientists fear the animals could spread fast, wiping out native animals and damaging crops. […] Pigs breed fast, with populations sometimes tripling in a single year. If that happens here, [wildlife technician with the Department of Environmental Conservation Ben] Tabor says, the environmental impact on Adirondack forests could be dramatic. (NCPR)

      These animals are not a natural species in the Champlain Valley, and hence can upset local ecosystems, including becoming problems for farmers. Last summer there were reports of a group of feral pigs troubling a farm in Peru, NY.

      Why are these animals a problem? This invasive species can destroy natural landscape and agricultural lands, upset local ecosystems, and also can carry diseases that are transmissible to other animals and humans.

      Learn more about the Eurasian Boar on the DEC website.

      Dealing with Feral Swine

      Wild boar
      Wild boar (Photo credit: mape_s)

      The New York State Senate and Assembly recently passed legislation at the prompting of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) that will prohibit the “importation and possession of the Eurasian boar, otherwise known as feral swine” effective September 2015.

      However, there is still the population of feral swine already out in the Adirondack wilderness that must be dealt with.

      Attempts to trap the nocturnal animals are tricky to accomplish because these pigs are resourceful and seem wise enough to avoid a trap that they’ve previously encountered.

      To give the situation some numbers, here is a statement from the 2013 New York State Legislative Summer Newsletter about the recent removal of feral swine:

      “The removal of 25 boars in Clinton County cost the DEC and a division of the USDA $68,000, or more than $2,600 per animal.”

      What can you do?

      Eurasian wild boars
      Eurasian wild boars (Photo credit: Marie Hale)

      In New York, people with a small game hunting license may shoot and keep Eurasian boars at any time and in any number. All other hunting laws and firearms regulations are still in effect when shooting Eurasian boars. […]

      If you do shoot or see Eurasian boars, or any feral swine, please report them to the nearest DEC regional wildlife office or e-mail us. Please report the number of animals seen or killed, whether any of them were piglets, the date, and the exact location (county, town, distance and direction from an intersection, nearest landmark, etc.). Photographs of Eurasian boars are greatly appreciated, so please try and get a picture and include it with your report. (NYDEC)

      What do you think about this situation? Do you believe it is a serious problem? Any thoughts on how it should be dealt with?

      Have you encountered any wild hogs or evidence of their presence in the Champlain Valley or near Essex, NY? If so where? Share your insights in the comments below!

      Related articles
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      • Timber Rattlesnake Safari (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
      • North Country Songs to Keep Project (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
      • State Senate would ban feral swine (adirondackdailyenterprise.com)

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      Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: Agriculture, Champlain Valley, Eurasian boar, feral pigs, feral swine, invasive species, pigs, Wildlife

      Essex on Lake Champlain

      About Editorial Staff

      Posts published under the Editorial Staff byline are drawn from press releases and other notices, and/or they may be first-time submissions from someone/some organization without a byline of their own; if latter, then the author will be acknowledged in the post. To submit your news for publication on the Essex blog please use the Submit a Story form or contact the editors via email (blue button above), Facebook or Twitter.

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. P.J. P. says

        October 18, 2013 at 10:28 am

        So long as the populations are kept in check through hunting, and providing they are safe, the animals provide a good source of game meat, as is found in the forests of Europe. But of course, an adequate study of whether or not hunting controls these ferel populations is also in order. If there’s not enough hunting, then other options must be explored.

        Reply

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