Licensed hunters and landowners may now take feral hogs at any time, since a package of bills has been signed by Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment announced today.
Hunters or individuals with concealed-carry permits may take swine running loose on public land or on private land with landowner permission. Landowners may take hogs on their property at any time.
The law also authorizes animal control officers and law enforcement officers to shoot hogs running loose on private or public property.
“Feral swine are known vectors for diseases that are transmissible to humans, livestock and wildlife,” said DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries. “This change in the law gives us another weapon for dealing with this unhealthy situation.”
The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) is in full agreement with the new law.
“Three years of hard work by many partners has paid off,” said Dr. Nancy Frank, MDA deputy director. “The joint resolutions by both the Natural Resources and Agriculture Commissions sent us in this direction. This legislation is key to preventing an environmental and animal health disaster.”
