I never, in all of my wildest dreams, thought I would be attending a Southeast Texas Beef Symposium, but that is what I did today! :) I was sent there today to help man the booth for the Coalition for Hog Control. Oink, oink, what’s up with that? 
I headed out this morning for the Ford Arena, outside of Beaumont, TX, to meet up with Jena Moon, the biologist, at McFadden NWR. Texas is home to an estimated two million feral hogs, which accounts for about 50% of all the feral hogs in the United States. Feral hogs destroy rangeland, pastures, crops, streams, ponds and watersheds. This is a major economic challenge for farmers, ranchers, and wildlife refuges. That’s about $51 million in damages for Texas landowners every year!Jena is competing for a grant to help control the feral hogs in Jefferson County. The method of control is to kill the hogs by shooting them from the air in helicopters. Some may think this is cruel, but these hogs are really destroying the habitat, and they breed year round here like rabbits! I’ve seen the destruction they can cause on our refuges. Anyway, our job was to sign up ranch owners for the eradication program at no cost to them. Once they heard her little speech, quite a few were very interested. All the ranchers around here have to deal with these destructive hogs.
As the lectures during the symposium were droning on about soil tests and fertilization of hay fields, I decided to take a stroll around the other vendors. There were several tractors and other equipment located between the two rows of vendors. 
I found the booth on ear tagging your cattle quite interesting, considering I grew up in the big city of Chicago. It was something I had never even thought about. Notice the diagram about where to place the tags in order to avoid arteries, etc. I felt a little bit out of my element in my gym shoes as everyone else was wearing boots and cowboy hats. :) They were all very friendly, however. 
While I was there, I also visited the Hay Show and saw the Grand Champion Hay Bale! Life doesn’t get much better than that! You just never know what tasks you’ll be asked to perform when volunteering. I know you’re all jealous of my experiences today, but try to control yourselves. :) Maybe some day you’ll get a chance to be in Hay, Hog, and Heifer Heaven! Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later, Judy
I guess folks don't shoot feral hogs for sport as they do deer? They could sell permits and make some money rather than pay for helicopters and sharpshooters. What happens to the dead hogs? Someone would have to gather the carcasses it seems. Are they good to eat? I'm sure they were eaten years ago, but with our refined tastes may not any more.
ReplyDeleteYou have such an interesting job, and it is good to hear other sides to a problem than just one's gut reaction. In this case, my gut reaction is that it's barbarous, but then I've never given a thought to an alternative view. Thanks for the post today.
I'm with Gypsy, sell permits and make money, provide meat, etc. I don't know why they wouldn't taste good.
ReplyDeleteJust another experience to put in your baby book! :)
Barbara
What a hoot! Love your blog today. I tuned in expecting bird pictures and I get to see bales of hay, ear tags, and hog control. Coming from MT that made me feel right at home. Maybe not so much the hog control but everything else. Love it.
ReplyDeleteYou have such an interesting job, I never heard of feral hogs.
ReplyDeleteWhat, no bird pix today? I thought I went to someone else blog! :)
ReplyDeleteHay, hogs, tractors, beef, are you sure you aren't in Iowa? It sounds like home to me.(lol)
ReplyDeleteWe have a medium problem with wild pigs up here in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The sometimes root up yards and fields.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen one.
what a 'piggy day' you had!!..thanks for all the information...I also had never heard of feral pigs!!
ReplyDeleteI am jealous, you have hit a bunch of events I have never even heard of. And well, a champion hay bale, how could I have missed that-:)
ReplyDeleteMaybe, I could sign up to help with the wild hogs.
I hope the upcoming cruise is not going to be a let down after this adventure.
I loved your great Blog today. What an interesting life you lead.
ReplyDeleteMake that three of us who hadn't heard about the rampaging feral pigs. Feral cats, yes. Feral pigs, no. This volunteer job of yours sounds very interesting. You may need to add a postscript to your title of Bird Lady.
ReplyDeletePardon my dumb question, but are feral hogs the same as Javelina?? My son and wife went Wild Boar hunting in Tennessee...and they got two, had them dressed and cut into meat..yummy!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a change from birds to hogs! Life is so interesting. I used to show dogs and was so surprised to find that a co-worker showed "hogs". I went to her house to see these "show hogs" and went away not understanding why they were so muddy and dirty. My husband thought I was so stupid! Hey, I'm a city girl not a country girl.
ReplyDeleteOne of our neighbors here in Florida said wild hogs had torn up their back yard. I thought "wild hogs" was a motorcycle group.
Sounds like you're going 'hog wild' down there in Texas, Judy!!
ReplyDeleteI would gladly spend the day there. When I die, I want to come back as a farmer's wife.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind culling either, but do hope the meat is used and not just left laying. We ate some of that wild hog in Texas and it was actually pretty good. We also saw farmers/Ranchers shooting deer, but just letting them lay instead of offering the meat for a good purpose.
If they have to kill the feral hogs, they could be used to feed the hungry.
ReplyDeleteOr have a big local BBQ!
Just to kill for killing's sake doesn't make sense, no reason to waste good meat, as they are tasty.
Thanks for your interesting blog.
Happy Trails, Penny, TX
well the feral pigs is a man made problem and killing them is not a solution to that problem! The pigs should be round up and given to people who wish to raise them for food or pet-its awful to kill them...wont solve the problem.
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