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MADRAS, Ore. (AP) — Packs of wild feral pigs, once confined to isolated populations in Central Oregon, have been spotted in nine counties across the state, from Brookings to the Blue Mountains.
The pigs can wreak havoc on farms and forestlands — though still relatively rare in Oregon, they do an estimated $800 million in agricultural damage annually across the country.
“Feral pigs are a potentially devastating ecological force, and we don’t want them here,” said Bruce Coblentz, a fisheries and wildlife scientist at Oregon State University who wrote a report warning about the pigs.
The hairy pigs are native to Europe but have spread to every continent except Antarctica, usually introduced by humans.
The Oregon populations may have migrated up from California, brought by people who want to hunt them. Some Oregon ranchers charge money to let people hunt them on their land.
The pigs prefer to forage in areas around rivers or streams, and can hinder timber growth, tear up irrigated fields, damage white oak stands and erode stream banks.
Though mostly vegetarian, they will eat about anything, even small mammals, such as fawns or ewes.
“These animals are real hardy, and they are not to be confused with someone’s 4-H project that’s run amok,” said Brian Ferry, district biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in Prineville.
In 2001, the state classified feral pigs as predators and wildlife animals. That made it illegal to let them run loose and legal for people to kill them on their property as a nuisance without a permit.
Before the change, they were considered livestock and couldn’t be killed. To hunt the pigs on public land, people must get a state hunting license.
In Oregon, the animals would be at home in just about any undeveloped area west of the Cascades and most of the dry side of the state as well, Coblentz said.
He’s hoping his report raises awareness about the harm that wild pigs could do to the agricultural economy if they continue to expand their range.
“They’re not a serious problem now, but if any of these populations catch on and explode you’ve immediately got a serious problem in that area,” he said.
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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com
The pigs can wreak havoc on farms and forestlands — though still relatively rare in Oregon, they do an estimated $800 million in agricultural damage annually across the country.
“Feral pigs are a potentially devastating ecological force, and we don’t want them here,” said Bruce Coblentz, a fisheries and wildlife scientist at Oregon State University who wrote a report warning about the pigs.
The hairy pigs are native to Europe but have spread to every continent except Antarctica, usually introduced by humans.
The Oregon populations may have migrated up from California, brought by people who want to hunt them. Some Oregon ranchers charge money to let people hunt them on their land.
The pigs prefer to forage in areas around rivers or streams, and can hinder timber growth, tear up irrigated fields, damage white oak stands and erode stream banks.
Though mostly vegetarian, they will eat about anything, even small mammals, such as fawns or ewes.
“These animals are real hardy, and they are not to be confused with someone’s 4-H project that’s run amok,” said Brian Ferry, district biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in Prineville.
In 2001, the state classified feral pigs as predators and wildlife animals. That made it illegal to let them run loose and legal for people to kill them on their property as a nuisance without a permit.
Before the change, they were considered livestock and couldn’t be killed. To hunt the pigs on public land, people must get a state hunting license.
In Oregon, the animals would be at home in just about any undeveloped area west of the Cascades and most of the dry side of the state as well, Coblentz said.
He’s hoping his report raises awareness about the harm that wild pigs could do to the agricultural economy if they continue to expand their range.
“They’re not a serious problem now, but if any of these populations catch on and explode you’ve immediately got a serious problem in that area,” he said.
———
Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com
