The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is set to conduct a multi-day aerial operation to control the feral hog population at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge. This operation, scheduled between Jan. 16 and 22, will involve APHIS personnel targeting and shooting feral hogs from a helicopter. For public safety, the refuge will be intermittently closed to all forms of entry, including vehicle, foot, bicycle, and horseback. Visitors are advised to check the refuge's website or call the office for updates on closure dates.
Feral hogs, a non-native species, pose a significant threat to the native ecosystem of Mingo National Wildlife Refuge. Their opportunistic feeding habits lead them to forage on the eggs of ground-nesting birds and consume reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. They also compete with native species such as deer and turkey for essential food sources like acorns. Additionally, their rooting and wallowing behaviors cause substantial alterations to the native habitats, undermining the refuge's mission to protect bottomland hardwood forest habitats and serve as a sanctuary for migratory waterfowl.
The first aerial operation to control feral hogs at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge took place in 2021, resulting in the removal of more than 400 hogs. Subsequent operations have seen a decrease in numbers, with about 40 hogs removed in a 2022 event. This ongoing management effort is part of a larger eradication plan aimed at substantially decreasing the feral hog population in the refuge.
For more information on the operation and updates on refuge closures, visit the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge website