ABQ NEWS paper wolves hogs/water
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hunting1
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I would go down and help them out, I love pork! Problem is people want to charge too much for access. Let hunters in I say if you want them killed.
"CLOVIS ? State and federal officials say feral pigs are ravaging eastern New Mexico?s range and farmland.
An astonishing reproductive rate has seen hogs spread to 17 of New Mexico?s 33 counties in just seven years.
The wild swine have rooted up Quay County farmer and rancher Ted Rush?s feed roads and destroyed milo and sorghum crops. He said he has killed more than 300 feral swine on his land.
?My wheat fields looked like they'd been bombed by the military, there were huge craters everywhere,? Rush said.
The pigs could have a devastating effect on New Mexico?s economy.
U.S. Agriculture Department wildlife specialist Ron Jones is tracking the invasion of feral pigs into New Mexico. He told the Clovis News Journal that he uses abandoned windmill sites with running water to track the pig?s progress across the state.
?There are only two kinds of land owners in New Mexico ? those who have feral pigs, and those who will,? Jones said.
Jones has watched this silent, natural disaster sweep across the state for seven years.
?It's time for action? he said. ?We need to draw a line and decide how far we're going to let this go.?
Curry County extension agent Stan Jones said he does not expect a huge problem in the Clovis area, because Curry and Roosevelt counties do not have rivers and streams, which feral hogs depend on to keep cool.
But New Mexico director of wildlife services Alan May disagrees.
?A population of feral pigs is doing quite well in the sandhills of New Mexico living off livestock water troughs provided by ranchers,? May said.
The hogs are invasive predators that have turned the state?s ecosystems upside down. Not only do they prey on young livestock, such as lambs and kid goats, they actively hunt young fawns and devour populations of rodents, reptiles and rabbits, which sustain New Mexico?s eagles, hawks, owls and coyotes, Jones said.
The voracious swine also decimate cactus pear apple, pi?on nut, acorn and mesquite bean sources that sustain native wildlife.
The wild swine have invaded the Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge for birds and threaten to drive New Mexico?s protected sand dune lizard into extinction.
The hog?s rooting habits are transforming the state?s landscape by destroying native grasses and leaving invasive and noxious weeds in their stead.
Texas has a huge population of wild hogs, and they are starting to plague urban areas because of changing habitats and prolific reproduction. Texas has up to 2 million of the hairy beasts, about half the nation?s population, and state officials say they cause about $400 million in damage each year.
The pigs also carry more than 20 diseases that have been known to wipe out herds of domestic livestock, Jones said. May said hogs can also contaminate water supplies throughout infested areas.
The USDA and other state agencies have sanctioned an eradication plan but don't have the manpower or resources to implement it. Jones hopes that public awareness will help bolster support for the plan."
"CLOVIS ? State and federal officials say feral pigs are ravaging eastern New Mexico?s range and farmland.
An astonishing reproductive rate has seen hogs spread to 17 of New Mexico?s 33 counties in just seven years.
The wild swine have rooted up Quay County farmer and rancher Ted Rush?s feed roads and destroyed milo and sorghum crops. He said he has killed more than 300 feral swine on his land.
?My wheat fields looked like they'd been bombed by the military, there were huge craters everywhere,? Rush said.
The pigs could have a devastating effect on New Mexico?s economy.
U.S. Agriculture Department wildlife specialist Ron Jones is tracking the invasion of feral pigs into New Mexico. He told the Clovis News Journal that he uses abandoned windmill sites with running water to track the pig?s progress across the state.
?There are only two kinds of land owners in New Mexico ? those who have feral pigs, and those who will,? Jones said.
Jones has watched this silent, natural disaster sweep across the state for seven years.
?It's time for action? he said. ?We need to draw a line and decide how far we're going to let this go.?
Curry County extension agent Stan Jones said he does not expect a huge problem in the Clovis area, because Curry and Roosevelt counties do not have rivers and streams, which feral hogs depend on to keep cool.
But New Mexico director of wildlife services Alan May disagrees.
?A population of feral pigs is doing quite well in the sandhills of New Mexico living off livestock water troughs provided by ranchers,? May said.
The hogs are invasive predators that have turned the state?s ecosystems upside down. Not only do they prey on young livestock, such as lambs and kid goats, they actively hunt young fawns and devour populations of rodents, reptiles and rabbits, which sustain New Mexico?s eagles, hawks, owls and coyotes, Jones said.
The voracious swine also decimate cactus pear apple, pi?on nut, acorn and mesquite bean sources that sustain native wildlife.
The wild swine have invaded the Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge for birds and threaten to drive New Mexico?s protected sand dune lizard into extinction.
The hog?s rooting habits are transforming the state?s landscape by destroying native grasses and leaving invasive and noxious weeds in their stead.
Texas has a huge population of wild hogs, and they are starting to plague urban areas because of changing habitats and prolific reproduction. Texas has up to 2 million of the hairy beasts, about half the nation?s population, and state officials say they cause about $400 million in damage each year.
The pigs also carry more than 20 diseases that have been known to wipe out herds of domestic livestock, Jones said. May said hogs can also contaminate water supplies throughout infested areas.
The USDA and other state agencies have sanctioned an eradication plan but don't have the manpower or resources to implement it. Jones hopes that public awareness will help bolster support for the plan."
LAST EDITED ON Feb-14-12 AT 04:57PM (MST)[p]Just read all 3 articles. My neighbors where at the water meeting to fight against the water transfer plan which would ruin local wells. They propose drilling 3k deep wells and pumping something like 9 mil. gallons . It could effect even my wells on the other side of the Continental Divide. There is a rumor going around that HH Tortenson ranch is for sale,not just water rights. RMEF needs more $ I guess and don't care what happens in NM. As for the pigs,I was in NMG&F office in Alb. to pick up Game reg. books and asked a couple wardens about hog hunting along the river near Socorro and they said the whole story is overblown and there where hardly any wild pigs in NM. Not what I've heard from others. And the wolves, they need to be controled, as all predators do. Not let go to breed and take over as they have around Yellowstone. They have totally decimated the elk there. Most of the locals in Catron county do not want anymore wolves. SSS
Gator
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?There are only two kinds of land owners in New Mexico ? those who have feral pigs, and those who will,? Jones said.
I guess that kind of sums it up.
Fix the problem now or wait and see what happens to the whole state.
"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
I guess that kind of sums it up.
Fix the problem now or wait and see what happens to the whole state.
"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
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