Wild boars pose environmental dangers

MID-MICHIGAN There are an estimated 3,000-5,000 wild hogs running loose in the state, many here in Mid-Michigan.

Pat Rusz is with the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy. "We feel the wild hog presents probably the biggest ecological challenge to Michigan in quite some time."

That's why the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to set out traps like this one. "We've got about five traps that are actively being used in the field right now," said Tim Wilson with USDA Wildlife Services.

This is a bait tube. It's filled with corn. Deer might be attracted to it. But if they are caught in the trap, they can easily jump the fence. When a wild hog goes for the bait tube, an attached cord pulls on this lever and slams the gate shut.

"More can continue to come in, but they can't get back out. It's a one-way gate," Wilson said.

Wildlife officials want to reduce the wild hog population because they carry diseases and destroy farm fields. "In Gratiot and Saginaw Counties, particularly the west half of those counties, we've already been seeing crop damage," Rusz said.

Rusz said the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy is launching a training program for landowners willing to set up and keep an eye on the traps. "Our goal is to get 90 traps available in two years."

The traps are easily moved and can be set up in less than an hour. "Wild hogs are nomadic and we're in a sense trying to work with a moving target," Rusz said.

Because wild hogs rapidly reproduce, wildlife experts say it's important to keep the population in check.

The Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, which is located near the village of Bath, will hold a group training session on how to trap wild boars.

It will be held from 6 to 9:30pm on May 12.

Copyright © 2025 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.