LULING — The Texas AgriLife Extension Service, in cooperation with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, will conduct a free Feral Hog Management Workshop from 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Luling Civic Center.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. Five Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator continuing education units are being offered – two general, two integrated pest management, and one laws and regulations.
a A free Feral Hog Workshop will be held on Feb. 14 at the Luling Civic Center. (Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo)
Topics at the workshop will include feral swine biology, population dynamics, the impact of feral hogs in the Plum Creek Watershed, Plum Creek Watershed Protection Plan implementation, a research update, feral hog hunting laws and regulations, agricultural regulations related to feral hogs, and control, safety and disease concerns.
The workshop includes lunch, refreshments and handouts.
According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas has one of the largest feral hog populations of any state, and AgriLife Extension has estimated that the destructive habits of hogs cause about $52 million in damages annually to Texas farms, ranches and the state’s agriculture industry. Feral hogs are also significant contributors of pollutants to creeks and rivers across the state.
“As feral hogs congregate around water sources to drink and wallow, their fecal matter is deposited directly in streams, adding bacteria and nutrients to the water bodies,” said AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist Dr. Jim Cathey, College Station. “Extensive rooting by groups of feral hogs causes extreme erosion and soil loss.”
Landowners and other stakeholders in the Plum Creek watershed have identified feral hogs as a contributor to elevated bacteria levels in the creek, said Jared Timmons, AgriLife Extension wildlife assistant. where?
“Through the Plum Creek Watershed Protection Plan, landowners have identified management and control of this invasive species as a priority mechanism to restore and protect water quality in Plum Creek,” Timmons said.
Workshop attendees are asked to preregister through the AgriLife Extension office for Caldwell County by Feb. 10 to ensure an accurate count for meals and handouts. For more information or to preregister, visit the office at 1403 Blackjack St., Suite. B in Lockhart or contact by phone at 512-398-3122 or email at caldwell@ag.tamu.edu.
The event is free of charge through a Clean Water Act Section 319(h) nonpoint source grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Additional information on feral hogs and feral hog control is available at http://plumcreek.tamu.edu/ feralhogs and http://feralhogs.tamu.edu/
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