To help agriculture producers, landowners and citizens make informed decisions concerning abatement and control options, the Hill County AgriLife Extension Office will host four educational programs related to feral hogs.
The programs will be held Thursday, October 8; Thursday, October 15; Tuesday, October 20; and Tuesday, November 3, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Hill County Extension Office, 213 Stadium Drive in Hillsboro.
Participants will receive training on feral hog biology, reproduction, safety and control methods. Additionally, participants will receive information on the continued Hill County feral hog bounty program — called Bucks for Bacon Bounty — and learn how they can participate.
One hour of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) continuing education will be offered for individuals with a Texas Department of Agriculture Applicator License.
This workshop will be presented by Zach Davis, Hill County Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural Resources.
The Bucks for Bacon Feral Hog Bounty Program, which began operation October 2014, has tracked the harvest of over 15,000 feral hogs across Hill County. Individuals interested in participating in the bounty program, including those previously registered, will need to attend one of the meetings offered.
Feral hogs have become perhaps the largest pest to agriculture producers and landowners in Texas. With a conservatively estimated population to be over 2.6 million in the state and 99% of all Texas counties having feral hog populations.
Not only are feral hogs destructive to most crops grown in the county, but they also pose a major threat to water quality, native ecology, native wildlife and livestock.
These hogs can also aid in the spread and transmission of several diseases to our domesticated livestock.
Many may think of feral hogs as native wildlife or game, however, they are actually an invasive species that destroy the natural resources which our native wildlife utilize.
Bucks for Bacon Bounty is part of the Feral Hog Reduction Program in Hill County. The bounty is currently in operation and will continue until bounty funds allocated by the Hill County Commissioners Court are exhausted.
The bounty is set at $10 per tail. Attendance at one of the educational programs is required to collect the bounty. Further details will be provided at the educational events offered.
“Our goal is to have as many citizens as possible throughout the county participating in this program,” said Davis. “The only way for us to make a significant reduction in feral hog damage is to systematically reduce the population. This can only be accomplished through a coordinated, widespread, multifaceted control effort.”
Call 254-582-4022 to RSVP or if you have questions.
