Feds to exterminate (alleged) San Diego Hogs Gone Wild LOL

[ltdann]

Here's where it gets kinda weird. DFG sells tags to provide recreational hunting activities to the state, i.e big game, i.e feral pigs. Yet the state pigs are located on federal land and DFG is part of an operation to get rid of them, in conjunction with the feds.

I'm not clear on the jurisdiction issues here. Does the land belong to the feds and pigs the state?

If so, its weird that DFG would sell tags for pigs and then work to remove them at the same time. Especially since the pigs are in a legal hunting zone covered by the tags.

If its federal land, and federal pigs, then why are we buying state tags to hunt federal land?

See my confusion?

 

[DFG_Bear]

The land belongs to the Federal Government (US citizens); the pigs belong to the people of the California.

The proposed action being considered by the Federal Government in this issue is being done independently by the Federal Government. DFG is only serving an advisory role. The DFG is not working to remove the pigs.

State law requires that any wild animal taken in California (regardless of property ownership) must be done so with a permit; a hunting license and pig tag is considered a permit for legal hunting activities. Another example of a permit authorizing the take of pigs is a depredation permit which private property owners may apply for and receive.

 

[BADBuckfever]

If these hogs were strictly on public lands why would there be ANY NEED to eradicate them? There wouldnt be. SO, these pigs are getting into private and tribal lands and state park lands (apparently). Without any COMPLAINTS the hogs would just go on being hogs living in the wild. Someone has made a HUGE STINK about these pigs and so far it seems to be PRIVATE land owners from what I can tell.

 

[ltdann]

The land belongs to the Federal Government (US citizens); the pigs belong to the people of the California.

The proposed action being considered by the Federal Government in this issue is being done independently by the Federal Government. DFG is only serving an advisory role. The DFG is not working to remove the pigs.

State law requires that any wild animal taken in California (regardless of property ownership) must be done so with a permit; a hunting license and pig tag is considered a permit for legal hunting activities. Another example of a permit authorizing the take of pigs is a depredation permit which private property owners may apply for and receive.

A bit more clear but it raises another question then. Do the feds need DFG permission to remove the pigs? i.e depredation permit?

Seriously, is the damage really worth the $1 millon or so the newspapers say it will take? I really don't understand the "line in the sand" approach in SD county and not in the other 56 counties with pigs.

Could you maybe clear that up some?

 

[BADBuckfever]

Boy, I've been searching for more info on this and this was a big deal over a year ago. Reported here:
http://hunt.976-tuna.com/news.php?item.485.4
And here:
http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/3025
Read this:
http://imcsdc.org/files/Pig_FAQ.pdf
and this:
http://www.thomaslarson.com/publications/san-diego-reader/191-hog-wild.html

Hunters a focus here:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/20/hunting-is-first-option-for-managing-wild-pigs/

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wild-pigs-target-federal-government-plan-eradication/story?id=13776251
"...Kevin Brennan, a wildlife biologist with California Department of Fish and Game said that even though the Forest Service wants to eradicate the animals, this is nearly impossible. "It's like trying to bail the ocean or build sand castles -- the waves will keep coming," said Brennan. He thinks it may be possible to better control the problem, but not to wipe out the pigs..."

What I'm finding amazing is the ready willingness of liberals who hate hunting to eagerly support the killing of wild hogs on their land.

 

[ltdann]

What I'm finding amazing is the ready willingness of liberals who hate hunting to eagerly support the killing of wild hogs on their land.

It doesn't coincide with the vision of their personal habitat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eScDfYzMEEw

 

[Bubblehide]

The more I think about this, the more I think were being sold a bill of goods. Seriously, the Feds want to do this, but the pigs are mostly on private land (their words); so the Feds want to do the private property owners a favor, really?

Here is what I think: I think the economy is really bad, and jobs are at stake, and money may be on the table, if you can make a strong case. All government agencies are looking at cuts, and people are having to justify their jobs. Considering the serious problem that pigs are in Texas and a couple other states, and the recent substantial press that has developed from those problem piggies, this situation is ripe for exploitation. Then when you consider some of the language used, like "potential damage" that the pigs can do, clearly they may not be the threat they are making them out to be. Furthermore, the southern Ca ecosystem is vastly different than that of Texas... and simply could not support those type of numbers of piggies. No, I think this all revolves around some piggies trying to keep their paychecks (can't say I blame them). But all and all, this just doesn't seem to add up, I mean, wouldn't it be much cheaper and more efficient to implement some habitat restoration projects...

Seriously, for what their proposing, and considering the type of terrain, habitat... all their likely to accomplish is to distribute those piggies over a larger area, granted I'm sure they'd kill a few, but they'll never get them all (unless they start looking at sterilization, which could be done through feeding stations), and the type of program they are speaking of would need to be continued, need continued management...

 

[ltdann]

In another post, I answered the question, "how many pigs have be taken recently in SD County".

The answer based on DFG statistics, nine (9) feral pigs have been reported to DFG from 1998-2010.

Hardly a swine invasion worthy of a federal, multi-agency task force, willing to spend $1.2 million.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

"Mountain lions in California eat people and get protected.

Pigs in California eat acorns on the ground get exterminated."

 

[rogsworld]

"Dear God please make it stop"

HaHa be careful what you ask for

 

[BADBuckfever]

Look at this, its been in the works for a while:
http://a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/1155...ai.com/11558/www/nepa/72857_FSPLT2_051129.pdf

Here's a report over a year ago:
http://cuyamaca.us/2010/01/21/pigs-in-the-park/

Another conservation group doing research on the evil pigs in 10/2009:
http://consbio.org/an-assessment-of...-feral-pigs-sus-scrofa-in-southern-california

Here's an early report from 2008:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20080930-9999-1s30outdoors.html

These reports have been out for long over a year. Why hasn't the hunting option been a focus of the solution before now. It seems to me DFG or these other agencies could have informed the general hunting public that there was a need to lower pig populations. Is this an attempt to avoid hunting in San Diego county? They keep saying hunters cant kill the pigs, so why has it been a big secret until the ERADICATION plan gets underway. Seems like they waited to announce their plan until they were ready for public comments just prior to implementation.

 

[ltdann]

As was mentioned, and I gotta agree:

1) success probality very low due to terrain.

2) population size small

3) overabundance on non-hunting areas i.e private land, state parks, wilderness areas etc, that act as safe havens.

Alot of us down south have been waiting for the population to get bigger in order to make it worthwhile.

Face it, considering reasons 1 and 3, hunters would never have a chance in controlling the spread.

We may have missed the boat on this one.

I wrote to Western Outdoor news, primarily because I didn't see a mention of the issue in the latest copy. Maybe if we raise enough of a stink and be heard, they'll reconsider. It's a long shot.

Hell, I may write to my Senator and Assemblymen about it. The idea that DFG is involved in an advisory capacity to exterminate a state game species seems like a conflict of interest to me.

 

[Bubblehide]

Well, between all the threads here about this, it's clear that I call this one correctly; it's all about funding, justifying jobs, and keeping jobs, i.e., something else requiring continued management, study, and review; all in the guise of saving the environment.

There going to push hard for this, very hard. It already reminds me of the MLPA/MPA process.

 

[DFG_Bear]

A bit more clear but it raises another question then. Do the feds need DFG permission to remove the pigs? i.e depredation permit?

Seriously, is the damage really worth the $1 millon or so the newspapers say it will take? I really don't understand the "line in the sand" approach in SD county and not in the other 56 counties with pigs.

Could you maybe clear that up some?

Yes, the Forest Service does need DFG approval to remove these pigs. The reason we're even remotely considering this in SD county, is based on two factors: 1) there really aren't that many pigs in the area under consideration - yet; the FS is in a good position now to take steps to alleviate the problem before the pig population overwhelms them, and 2) the area under consideration contains very sensitive habitats, some of which found nowhere else in the world.

I agree that pigs are causing damage in the other counties they occupy. However, their numbers are already beyond a point where such control measures would even remotely be considered effective.

 

[DFG_Bear]

Why hasn't the hunting option been a focus of the solution before now. It seems to me DFG or these other agencies could have informed the general hunting public that there was a need to lower pig populations. Is this an attempt to avoid hunting in San Diego county? They keep saying hunters cant kill the pigs, so why has it been a big secret until the ERADICATION plan gets underway. Seems like they waited to announce their plan until they were ready for public comments just prior to implementation.

I've issued a press release about the pig hunting in this location about a year ago, in an attempt to inform hunters of this location. As you can probably imagine, I receive inquiries daily about locations for pig hunting throughout the state, and I routinely inform our SoCal hunters of this location, provide them maps and phone numbers. However, from the rumor mill, I've heard that there seems to be some reluctance by the land management agency and some neighboring landowners to get hunters out there. I think that's mostly an education and thus a perception problem.

 

[ltdann]

Thanks DFG, it's clearer now. By chance, do you know what sensitive habitats are endangered?

 

[mezcan]

Thanks DFG, it's clearer now. By chance, do you know what sensitive habitats are endangered?

Probably that super sensitve,rattlesnake choked, never seen up close and personal by anybody but a hunter, burns every few years whether you like it or not, Southern California low hanging forest ! Yah , that's right , chaparral.

Guess I'll just wait for the next major fire to get me some smoked ham .

 

[DFG_Bear]

Thanks DFG, it's clearer now. By chance, do you know what sensitive habitats are endangered?

Not off the top of my head (at least the specifics). Just the riparian habitat is severely diminished in SD county and some of our native species depend on them. Frogs, insects, lizards, etc. are endemic to the area and are quite susceptible to any disturbance, either human or animal caused.

 

[mtnsammy]

I still think at $20 the price is not problem for me. I spent 300 in fuel alone to hunt Paso Robles and bought 2 tags ust in case. $40 for possibly 200 pounds of pork is just fine for me. Now let's fight the pork fearing fuel lords in the Middle East for a price break???

 

[Marty]

Well, if the DFG decides to allow the USFS to eradicate these pigs, will the DFG be issuing refunds for pig tags bought in this use year?

 

[mezcan]

Not off the top of my head (at least the specifics). Just the riparian habitat is severely diminished in SD county and some of our native species depend on them. Frogs, insects, lizards, etc. are endemic to the area and are quite susceptible to any disturbance, either human or animal caused.

A cursory glance at topos of CNF show that most private holdings within the Nat'l forest have the best looking riparian habitat in the whole forest.....