Airoh
11-08-2006, 11:06 PM
For Immediate Release
November 8, 2006
Contact: Bridget Patrick, MDA, 517-373-1104 or Ann Wilson, DNR,
517-335-3014
State to hunters: Help eliminate feral swine
Wild swine pose threat to domestic livestock, environment and
individuals
Lansing - Officials from the Michigan Departments of Agriculture (MDA)
and Natural Resources (DNR) today encouraged hunters with a valid
hunting license of any type to shoot feral swine (free-ranging wild pigs) in
23 Michigan counties.
In states where feral swine have become established, they have caused
crop damage, pose a serious threat to the health and welfare of the
domestic swine, endanger humans, impact wildlife populations, and impact
the environment by disrupting the ecosystem.
Because state law protects livestock that may be running at large,
special precautions are necessary to guard the rights of farmers. The
following locations have had at least one feral pig reported: Arenac, Bay,
Baraga, Clinton, Cheboygan, Gladwin, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Isabella,
Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm,
Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Roscommon, and Saginaw counties.
County prosecutors are aware that shooting feral swine in these counties
is permitted and any potential owners of the feral swine have been
contacted and do not claim ownership.
"We will take aggressive enforcement action to protect the health of
legally imported swine used in hunting preserves and eliminate feral
swine from the wild in Michigan," said State Veterinarian Steven Halstead.
"Our goal is to safeguard the livestock industry as well as the
environment from these unwelcome invaders."
"Hunters, as always, have to be certain of their targets before
shooting," said Alan Marble, Bureau Chief of the DNR Law Enforcement Division.
"Feral Swine are unfamiliar targets to most Michigan hunters, and
sportspersons need to make sure they are shooting at hogs and not black
bear, dogs, or any other animal."
Because feral swine have the potential to carry diseases which may
impact the state’s domestic swine industry, MDA and DNR have set up a
program to test these animals. DNR biologists at field check stations, in
counties where feral swine have been sighted, will help hunters gather
tissue samples to be submitted to the state diagnostic laboratory for
free disease testing.
While there is no indication that these animals are carrying
pseudorabies or any other disease, precautionary testing will be conducted.
Feral swine may also transmit diseases such as brucellosis, bovine
tuberculosis (TB) and trichinosis to people and other livestock.
A person field-dressing swine, especially in the Northeastern Lower
Michigan TB area, should wear gloves. If the lungs, ribcage or internal
organs from wild pigs look abnormal (multiple tan or yellow lumps), the
meat should not be eaten. The carcass should, however, be removed from
the environment and brought to a DNR field office to prevent disease
transmission to other animals.
It is highly unlikely a person will contract bovine TB, brucellosis or
trichinosis by eating thoroughly cooked meat of feral swine. These
pathogens and parasites are very rarely found, as a precaution however, all
meats, including that of feral swine, should be thoroughly cooked to an
internal temperature of 170.6 degrees F.
State law prohibits the release of any species having the potential to
spread serious diseases or parasites, to cause serious physical harm,
or to otherwise endanger native wildlife, human life, livestock,
domestic animals, or property. Intentional release of swine in Michigan is a
felony and may be punishable by not less than $1,000.
The law also requires domestically raised swine (including Russian and
Eurasian Boars), have a physical examination by an accredited
veterinarian to determine the health status before and after importation into
Michigan. Proper housing, husbandry, and confinement of the animal must
also be determined at the time of importation. Therefore, swine not
raised in captivity may not be imported and released anywhere in Michigan.
To help eliminate these pests, the DNR encourages hunters to take any
legal opportunity to shoot feral swine. They can be unpredictable when
and where they show up. Hunters may not easily get a second chance.
(Tip) When shooting a pig, aim for the shoulder or slightly ahead of the
shoulder. The vital area of a pig is more forward than a deer.
If you see or shoot any feral swine please contact: the DNR at (517) 336-5030 or email brownkr@michigan.gov; MDA at 800-292-3939 (press "4"
for the Animal Industry Division); or USDA Wildlife Services at (517) 336-1928.
For more information on Zoonotic diseases and feral swine, go to:
www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases (http://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases)
November 8, 2006
Contact: Bridget Patrick, MDA, 517-373-1104 or Ann Wilson, DNR,
517-335-3014
State to hunters: Help eliminate feral swine
Wild swine pose threat to domestic livestock, environment and
individuals
Lansing - Officials from the Michigan Departments of Agriculture (MDA)
and Natural Resources (DNR) today encouraged hunters with a valid
hunting license of any type to shoot feral swine (free-ranging wild pigs) in
23 Michigan counties.
In states where feral swine have become established, they have caused
crop damage, pose a serious threat to the health and welfare of the
domestic swine, endanger humans, impact wildlife populations, and impact
the environment by disrupting the ecosystem.
Because state law protects livestock that may be running at large,
special precautions are necessary to guard the rights of farmers. The
following locations have had at least one feral pig reported: Arenac, Bay,
Baraga, Clinton, Cheboygan, Gladwin, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Isabella,
Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm,
Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Roscommon, and Saginaw counties.
County prosecutors are aware that shooting feral swine in these counties
is permitted and any potential owners of the feral swine have been
contacted and do not claim ownership.
"We will take aggressive enforcement action to protect the health of
legally imported swine used in hunting preserves and eliminate feral
swine from the wild in Michigan," said State Veterinarian Steven Halstead.
"Our goal is to safeguard the livestock industry as well as the
environment from these unwelcome invaders."
"Hunters, as always, have to be certain of their targets before
shooting," said Alan Marble, Bureau Chief of the DNR Law Enforcement Division.
"Feral Swine are unfamiliar targets to most Michigan hunters, and
sportspersons need to make sure they are shooting at hogs and not black
bear, dogs, or any other animal."
Because feral swine have the potential to carry diseases which may
impact the state’s domestic swine industry, MDA and DNR have set up a
program to test these animals. DNR biologists at field check stations, in
counties where feral swine have been sighted, will help hunters gather
tissue samples to be submitted to the state diagnostic laboratory for
free disease testing.
While there is no indication that these animals are carrying
pseudorabies or any other disease, precautionary testing will be conducted.
Feral swine may also transmit diseases such as brucellosis, bovine
tuberculosis (TB) and trichinosis to people and other livestock.
A person field-dressing swine, especially in the Northeastern Lower
Michigan TB area, should wear gloves. If the lungs, ribcage or internal
organs from wild pigs look abnormal (multiple tan or yellow lumps), the
meat should not be eaten. The carcass should, however, be removed from
the environment and brought to a DNR field office to prevent disease
transmission to other animals.
It is highly unlikely a person will contract bovine TB, brucellosis or
trichinosis by eating thoroughly cooked meat of feral swine. These
pathogens and parasites are very rarely found, as a precaution however, all
meats, including that of feral swine, should be thoroughly cooked to an
internal temperature of 170.6 degrees F.
State law prohibits the release of any species having the potential to
spread serious diseases or parasites, to cause serious physical harm,
or to otherwise endanger native wildlife, human life, livestock,
domestic animals, or property. Intentional release of swine in Michigan is a
felony and may be punishable by not less than $1,000.
The law also requires domestically raised swine (including Russian and
Eurasian Boars), have a physical examination by an accredited
veterinarian to determine the health status before and after importation into
Michigan. Proper housing, husbandry, and confinement of the animal must
also be determined at the time of importation. Therefore, swine not
raised in captivity may not be imported and released anywhere in Michigan.
To help eliminate these pests, the DNR encourages hunters to take any
legal opportunity to shoot feral swine. They can be unpredictable when
and where they show up. Hunters may not easily get a second chance.
(Tip) When shooting a pig, aim for the shoulder or slightly ahead of the
shoulder. The vital area of a pig is more forward than a deer.
If you see or shoot any feral swine please contact: the DNR at (517) 336-5030 or email brownkr@michigan.gov; MDA at 800-292-3939 (press "4"
for the Animal Industry Division); or USDA Wildlife Services at (517) 336-1928.
For more information on Zoonotic diseases and feral swine, go to:
www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases (http://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases)