Another round of applications for Mississippi’s Wild Hog Control Program (WHCP) will soon be open.
Commissioner Andy Gipson announced Wednesday that the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce will be accepting applications between Thursday, Aug. 1, and Thursday, Aug. 15. Landowners and property managers in all Mississippi counties are eligible to apply.
Through the WHCP, the agency provides “smart” wild hog traps to control the invasive species on private agricultural forestry lands. MDAC also provides the training necessary to use the traps plus technical guidance on the most effective methods to trap and control wild hogs.
“Wild hogs are a huge threat to our farms and natural resources across the state,” Gipson said. “MDAC’s Wild Hog Control Program staff are dedicated to assisting farmers and private land managers in the battle against these destructive animals. The most effective trapping equipment is used in our trap loan program, and the program has resulted in great success.”
In Mississippi alone, wild hogs cause more than $60 million in damages annually. Nationwide, that number has been tracked at $2.5 billion in damages each year.
Applications must be completed and submitted online. 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.
A cooperative application is encouraged for small acreage (i.e., adjoining land managers of small parcels should work together to submit one application). Traps will be available for one-month intervals, dependent upon use and success. Depending on landscape and land use, one trap per 500 to 1,000 acres is recommended.
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