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State takes aim at feral swine program; funding helps eradicate wild pigs
Balancing the state budget could leave one vital program without the funding it needs.
The Feral Swine Program, which became a cooperative agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services and the Kansas Animal Health Department in 2006, to control and eradicate feral swine in Kansas, could be on the chopping block.
Another purpose of the program is to prevent more feral swine from being brought in to Kansas and to rid the state of the ones that are already here. The program costs the state $175,000 a year.
The hogs are known to root up crops and pastures, carry numerous diseases and cause millions of dollars worth of crop damage annually in the U.S. Those numbers only include damage to crops, not the price tag for the other problems feral hogs can cause such as erosion, vehicle collisions, livestock depredation and fence damage. There are also costs to control and eradicate the feral swine.
"Since 2006, we have documented $3.17 million of damage statewide," said John Johnson, biologist for the USDA APHIS WS.
Crop removal, pasture damage and the spread of disease are also of major concern, said Delta George, of K-State Research and Extension Office of Bourbon County. "From the agriculture side, there is significant damage done by feral hogs. Landowners, producers and farmers are not able to fight this alone," she added.
Some of the diseases these hogs can carry include pseudorabies, which affects the nervous system and can affect domestic and feral hogs, cattle, horses, goats, sheep, dogs and cats.
Wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, opossums and small rodents can also be fatally infected, however, the disease does not infect people. Another serious disease they can carry is swine brucellosis, which can cause infertility in boars and abortions in sows. This disease can also cause a loss of production and profit in domestic swine operations. Once infected, a hog is a carrier for life. The only effective way to control this disease is to test and remove infected individual swine, a task impossible to do in a wild population.
Swine brucellosis is contagious to humans and symptoms may range from severe flu-like symptoms to arthritis or meningitis. There is no cure for this disease in animals, but people can be treated with antibiotics in an attempt to clear the infection.
The feral hog problem in Kansas began in 1993, when the state confirmed one population in Riley County. In 1995, the Kansas lawmakers passed legislation prohibiting the possession, importation or transportation of feral swine in the state to hopefully prevent more feral swine from being brought into the state. Some hunters have brought them in to hunt them for sport.
The single population of feral swine found in Riley County was eradicated by USDA/APHIS/WS by 2000. By then, according to information from USDA APHIS WS, it was evident that there were populations of feral swine popping up across the state.
One of those populations can be found in Bourbon County.
John Johnson, USDA APHIS WS biologist, said the program, "is vitally important to Bourbon County. If funding is lost, the population of feral swine will go back up in a short amount of time and ... we will be right back where we started in a short amount of time. Bourbon County is still our hot spot. We have been working on this population for the past four years, and it's still our biggest population."
To many, the program isn't just about eradicating hogs, it's about protecting their livelihood. Many farmers like Mike and Judy Wilson have experienced the damage feral hogs can do to crops and pastures.
"They're destructive. You lose part of your crop every year. Sometimes it will be a lot worse than others," Judy Wilson said. "We support this program. It's not a frivolous plan, it's Kansas agriculture. It's a good plan, it's working and it needs to be allowed to continue to work."
Her husband agrees. "In my opinion, we have to cut money. We're broke. But there are so many other programs out there that can be cut a little bit to save a program that works," Mike Wilson said. "If it's working, why are you going to get rid of it?"
While Bourbon County still has a population of feral swine, the feral hog program has accomplished much since it started.
"We have a highly successful program, probably the most successful program in the United States. We are doing things nobody else is able to do," Johnson said.
Judy Wilson lauded the efforts of USDA, and Johnson in particular.
"We still have a problem with the feral swine and we'll probably never eradicate it, but it's much better than it was," she said. "The USDA Wildlife Services has definitely improved the quality. John Johnson needs a pat on the back. He is extremely dedicated and he had knowledge of hunting and trapping the hogs before this. His level of knowledge is above most. We are lucky to have got him and we need to keep him."
Former Kansas State Rep. Lynne Oharah said the state's program and Johnson's expertise are what's made it so successful.
"Any time you can control a population like the feral swine, especially with just one person, it's outstanding," Oharah said.
Oharah has worked with other legislators and landowners since 2006 to help with the feral hog problem.
"I've been working at it for at least six years," he said. "And these landowners, like Mike and Judy for instance, have been dealing with it for at least 10 years. It is not just an agriculture problem. It's also an environment issue and a wildlife issue. It's an issue that will touch everyone."
Mike and Judy Wilson agree. "If you eat or breathe, you're going to know it," Judy Wilson said. "Most people believe we have some type of crop insurance or something to help us out with the costs from the damage, but there's nothing -- nothing set up to help us. We will continue to lose our funds. This program has helped us."
Even area legislators are working to see the program continue.
"Off the cuff, it may not seem like a big problem to some. They may see the funding for it and say, 'Oh, we can just cut that out.' But it is causing a big problem. They're destroying crops," State Sen. Bob Marshall said. "The biggest problem is that some people aren't even aware of the situation. They don't know that the problem is out there. But the people around the Mapleton and Bourbon County area, they know about it. They've seen how detrimental in can be. They see how it's destroying their crops, destroying their livelihood."
Rep. Caryn Tyson said cutting the program would not be good for the state.
"We need to be aware that it is an issue in Kansas that needs to be addressed," Tyson said. "I don't think that it will be good for Kansas. But the budgets are tight, and they are trying to find where they can save money. But it's still early in the budget process. It's still to be seen as to what will happen."
Marshall advises residents to reach out to their state legislators.
"My suggestion is for people to write your senators and your representatives. Send information to the governor's office about the destruction they (feral hogs) cause," said Marshall. "Cause the grassroots to swell, so the representatives will stand up against the elimination of this funding."
To local landowners, the effects of eliminating the program greatly outweigh the expense.
"If we lose this program, I think everyone will be on their own to deal with it," said Mike Wilson. "Kansas needs to compare this program to other states. See what they are spending and see how much more successful we are compared to them. The problem will continue to grow. Look at the problems the others states have. Kansas will have it, too, if they don't open their eyes and see that we have a program that works. To me, Topeka should see that it's a very successful program."
"And what we are spending is nothing compared to what the other states are spending, because they've let the problem get out of control," added Judy. "I tell people that this program is the cheapest insurance policy in the state of Kansas."