Agriculture officials in Mississippi will soon accept a new wave of applications for the wild hog control program.
From August 1-15, landowners and managers in all of the state’s 82 counties are eligible to request “smart” traps for the control of wild hogs on private agricultural and forestry properties in Mississippi. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce will provide the training necessary to use these traps and technical guidance regarding the most effective methods to trap and control wild hogs on private lands.
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“Wild hogs are one of the most destructive, invasive species threatening Mississippi’s agriculture and natural resources, causing more than $60 million in damages annually,” Gipson said.
“Through our Wild Hog Control Program, we equip landowners with the tools and training they need to protect their crops, property, and livelihoods. I encourage all eligible landowners and managers to apply for our latest round of trapping and join our agency in the fight to control these costly, non-native, and nuisance animals.”
Applications must be completed and submitted online. Officials report that submitted applications will be evaluated based on the number of acres available for trapping, historical agricultural losses caused by wild hogs on the property, and current trapping efforts on the property.
A cooperative application is encouraged for small acreage, meaning adjoining land managers of small parcels are asked to work together to submit one application. Traps will be available for one-month intervals, dependent upon use and success. One trap per 500 acres is recommended, depending on the landscape and land use.
