Wild Hog Control Program opens May application period statewide
Special to The Leland Progress (LD)
Mississippi landowners will have a new opportunity this month to apply for assistance in controlling wild hog populations, which continue to cause damage to farmland and timberlands across the state, including crops, soybean fields and levee systems in the Mississippi Delta.
The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce announced that applications for its Wild Hog Control Program will be accepted May 1–15. The program is open to landowners and land managers in all counties, including those in the Mississippi Delta.
“I encourage landowners and managers impacted by wild hogs to apply for participation in the Wild Hog Control Program,” said Andy Gipson. “This trapping program continues to deliver positive results in the fight against these destructive nuisance animals, which cause significant damage to farmland and forestlands across Mississippi.”
Through the program, the state provides “smart” traps designed to capture entire groups of wild hogs. Participants also receive training and technical guidance on effective trapping methods for use on private agricultural and forestry lands.
Applications must be submitted online at mdac.ms.gov/whcp. Officials said applications will be evaluated based on acreage available for trapping, documented agricultural losses and current control efforts. Landowners with smaller parcels are encouraged to apply cooperatively with neighboring properties.
Traps are typically deployed for one-month intervals, depending on use and success, with one trap recommended per 500 acres based on landscape and land use.
Additional information, including program guidelines, is available on the MDAC website. Questions may be directed to program coordinator Harold Leonard at [email protected].
