Seeking to reign in the Eurasian wild pig population in Minnesota, lawmakers are set to add new restrictions to the animal's release and transportation throughout the state.
Also known as the wild boar, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the feral swine are "smart and elusive and destructive on landscapes… Feral hogs are spreading across North America, trampling, foraging, wallowing, and rooting up land as they go."
Damages to crops are estimated to be $1.5 billion annually nationwide, according to the DNR.
Although Minnesota is currently considered free of established herds of feral swine, according to the University of Minnesota Swing Extension program, loose pig sightings are becoming more common.
In an effort to limit their reproduction and curtail uncontrolled growth, the 2023 omnibus agriculture policy bill before the Minnesota Legislature would require a person to notify a DNR conservation officer and the Board of Animal Health within 24 hours about any intentional or accidental release of a Eurasian wild pig or Eurasian-domestic hybrid pig in the state. Any potential violations would be enforceable by a misdemeanor.
Source: fox9.com
Photo Credit: GettyImages-Neil_Burton
Categories: Minnesota, Livestock, Hogs