COLLEGE STATION – For many farmers and ranchers, it may seem as though feral hogs are well on their way to taking over the country. But now at least, the new app, Feral Hog Management, developed by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, is here to help landowners learn the legal strategies available to impede this apparently unending flow of unwanted porcine invaders.
“Feral hogs are fast becoming the number one single most destructive invasive species threatening agriculture and wildlife in the U.S.,” said Mark Tyson, AgriLife Extension wildlife and fisheries associate at College Station. “They contribute to poor water quality issues, disturb native ecosystems, and wreak havoc on landscapes and gardens. Their growing numbers are now making them a menace on our roadways, with collision damage often exceeding several thousands of dollars per incident.
“Even as they become ‘public enemy No. 1,’ their population relentlessly continues to explode. In Texas alone, their numbers are now estimated at a conservative 2.6 million head, with $52 million in damages chalked-up to them annually. And, with an estimated 134 million acres of suitable habitat in Texas for feral hogs, their skyrocketing numbers are ripe for some major expansion.”
For 99 cents, Tyson said the AgriLife Extension app, available at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/feral-hog-management/id784847089?mt=8, provides landowners with the key to a wealth of the very best information now available on various control measures.