The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) received to a report of potential feral swine from USDA Wildlife Services on Oct. 15. USDA Wildlife Services received a call of a bear getting into a barn and livestock feed. Upon investigation, pig scat, tracks and other signs consistent with swine were found and no evidence of bear presence was found, the Montana Department of Livestock said in a release.
The pigs were later identified as owned domestic swine running uncontained and beginning to demonstrate behaviors and characteristics consistent with feral swine populations. Montana averages roughly six reports per year of potential feral swine sightings. All reports to date have proven to be owned domestic swine running at large.
Montana state law prohibits swine from living in a feral state and prohibits domestic swine from running at large. State law defines feral swine as a hog, boar, or pig that appears to be untamed, undomesticated, in a wild state, or appears to be contained for commercial hunting or trapping. Hunting feral swine is also prohibited in Montana.
Because of this, MDOL is currently working with the animal owner, area landowners, USDA Wildlife Services, USDA Veterinary Services, and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks to stop the animals from continuing to run uncontained. The animals will be trapped. Healthy animals will then be donated to Producer Partnership, a not-for-profit federally inspected meat processing establishment in Livingston, Mont., to “preserve as much protein from these animals to be used as food as possible.”
“MDOL appreciates the high level of cooperation between state and federal agencies and the compliance of the animal owner” state veterinarian Tahnee Szymanski said in a release. “Removing these animals is important to prevent them from becoming an established population of feral swine, and we especially appreciate Producer Partnership for providing a productive outlet for these animals.”
Feral Swine Free
Montana does not have any known established populations of feral swine, and a 2015 law was created to prevent the establishment of feral swine in the state.
“Potential sources of feral swine populations include migration of populations into Montana or the intentional transport and release of pigs in Montana, MDOL explained in a release. “Both Alberta and Saskatchewan have known established populations, although their proximity to the U.S.-Canadian border is variable. Additionally, domestic swine populations that are allowed to run uncontained, such as the Phillips County herd, will quickly revert to feral characteristics and behavior.”
Feral swine can cause major damage to crops, pastures, wetlands and riparian areas. Not only are they predatory and pose a threat to ground nesting birds and small mammals, they also can transmit diseases and parasites that affect livestock, pets, wildlife and people.
Potential sightings of feral swine or damage due to swine should be reported to MDOL at 406-444-2976. For more information, visit www.liv.mt.gov.
