Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh today applauded a published decision from the Michigan Court of Appeals that upholds a 2011 Invasive Species Order issued by the department prohibiting Russian boar in Michigan.
“This decision provides important protections for natural and agricultural resources in Michigan,” said DNR Director Keith Creagh. “The ruling provides additional clarity around this issue and is a strong affirmation of DNR policies intended to protect the state’s forests, fields and farms from this invasive species.”
The Court of Appeals ruling overturns a March 2014 decision from the Marquette County Circuit Court. The 3-0 Appeals Court decision holds that the Invasive Species Order “meets constitutional standards in all respects” and remains in effect in Michigan.
In Michigan almost all feral swine – that is, swine outside of captivity – are Russian boar. Russian boar are not native to Michigan. All Russian boar in the wild were either introduced intentionally into the wild or escaped from captivity.
The Invasive Species Order that declared Russian boar illegal in Michigan was prompted by concerns that feral swine are significant disease carriers that can jeopardize domestic livestock and threaten wildlife and even humans, and that feral swine cause ecological and agricultural damage, ranging from rooting up farm fields and damaging crops to wallowing in rivers and destroying aquatic habitat. The order was designed to prevent additional Russian boar from becoming feral.
“Feral swine have become established in other states and we know how costly and detrimental those populations are for those states,” said Creagh. “Once established, invasive species of all types pose a serious threat to our natural resources. It’s the goal of the department to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species. This ruling is a significant step in achieving that goal.”
