Canned Hunt Escapees Lead to Feral Population Problems in Michigan

Currently there are approximately 5,000 wild boar roaming the state of Michigan. But these are not native boars. They are escapees from places like canned hunt ranches that import Russian boar from other countries, including Canada, and charge up to $2,000 for a hunting experience. Never mind that the boar are confined to the hunting area by fences, making it nearly impossible to go home empty handed. Some hunting packages also allow hunting with a pack of dogs. An added bonus for these hunters? Earlier this year Michigan regulations allowed for wild boar to be shot-on-site on private land, year-round, and without a license (hunting license still required to discharge weapons on public lands).

So, what’s the problem? If you read Stephanie Feldstein’s recent article about radioactive boars in Germany, you may recall that wild boars can severely damage ecosystems and spread disease to livestock. As a result, wildlife managers in areas with wild boar will often use hunting to control population numbers. In Michigan, it has been legal to kill wild boar with any type of hunting license since 2006. Unfortunately, the numbers have continued to grow as the escaped boar reproduce.

The situation is so dire that Michigan is considering listing wild boar as an invasive species. This listing could happen as early as September and would mean that the ownership of wild boar becomes illegal. At least six other states — Wisconsin, Colorado, Nevada, Kentucky, Wyoming and Oregon — have already declared war on wild boars as an invasive species.

Don’t get me wrong. I fully understand the importance of invasive species control, which may include hunting. But no one can convince me that placing an animal inside an enclosure with no possibility of escape while people invoke their inner survivalist to kill the dangerous beast with overly-powered firearms can be considered sportsmanship or wildlife management.

With an estimated 35 to 50 game ranches in Michigan offering wild boar hunting experiences, there are plenty of opportunities for escapees. The operators of these facilities argue that a ban on owning wild boar would infringe on property rights; they believe regulations, including fencing standards and licensing, are more appropriate. Of course if you ask these ranchers, the majority of them would claim they are not a part of the problem as they’ve never had any boar escape from their property. With wild boar now documented in at least 69 of Michigan’s 83 counties, they certainly came from multiple farms across the state.

Conservation groups like Michigan Wildlife Conservancy are at the forefront of wild hog removal efforts. Through MWC, a bounty reward system has been established for hunters and hog traps can be rented. Action on the part of local citizens is deemed crucial by MWC to combat the wild boar population; educating others, hunting and reporting boar activity are all encouraged.

While hunting and trapping can be effective methods to control invasive species, other non-lethal methods of population control would be worth exploring, especially since wild boar are intelligent enough to elude hunters and trappers. These methods include relocation, creating barriers (like fences), chemical repellents and reproduction suppression. In a situation like Michigan where there are thousands of wild boar, a combination of lethal and non-lethal control would likely be necessary.

Until Michigan decides if wild boar are considered an invasive species, private ownership of these animals will remain legal, helping keep canned hunting ranches in business. More escapes will be risked and the feral population may never be eradicated. Michigan would be well advised to not only classify wild boar as an invasive species but to deem canned hunts illegal as well.

Photo by mape_s