APHIS Publications Available Online

Looking for information on how to deal with feral hog damage? How about an update on coyotes?

All the publications currently available from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are available on their Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/ They are organized into the following categories: APHIS General Information, Animal Health, Plant Health, Biotechnology, Wildlife Damage, and Animal Welfare. Whenever possible, publications are made available in both English and Spanish.

You may order copies of an APHIS Publication through the APHIS Publications Ordering System. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of your items. If you have any questions about your order, contact us at APHIS.Publications@aphis.usda.gov.

Got Feral Hogs? VDGIF Sets Public Discussions for August

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is holding public discussions on feral hogs in Virginia, their impacts, and what other states are now doing to control them in August. They will be held:

August 15, 6:30 PM
Germanna Community College,
Locust Grove Campus
For more information, contact VDGIF at 540-295-7590

August 20, 6:30 PM
Halifax County - Scottsburg Vol. Fire Dept.
For more information, contact VDGIF at 434-525-7522

A third meeting is planned in the Southwest region of the state. Date and location to be determined.

Feral hogs (also called wild hogs) are classified as a nuisance species in Virginia. Any pig that is outside of the property of its owner and cannot be claimed by its owner will be classified as a feral hog. They are an extremely invasive animal and cause damage to habitat wherever they exist. Feral hogs have been found to destroy turkey, grouse, and quail nests. They can also prey on deer fawns, destroy sensitive wetland habitat, and compete with our native wildlife for food resources. Feral hogs carry numerous diseases that can affect wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. The transmission of swine brucellosis and pseudorabies is a major concern to the commercial swine industry domestic animals, and humans. The transmission of swine brucellosis and pseudorabies is a major concern to the commercial swine industry.

Game Laws update: Coyote Control Program

Coyotes are on the prowl across Virginia. This worries Virginia livestock farmers. Virginia livestock farmers saw a 32 percent increase in the reported sheep predation by coyotes and a 69 percent increase in calf predation by coyotes from FY2010 compared to FY2011.

This is why Virginia Farm Bureau is working hard to keep the program at least minimally funded during these tight budget times. Virginia Farm Bureau hopes that during better economic times that a case can be made to fully fund the state’s portion of this program at $250,000.

The Virginia Cooperative Coyote Damage Control Program has been in place since 1991. This is a state and federal program serves Virginia livestock producers suffering coyote predation on livestock by providing technical assistance, direct control, and education.

Delegate Poindexter and Senator Ruff are carrying budget amendments to restore $40,000 to bring the program back to the bare minimum of $120,000 needed for a state and federal program to continue to operate.