PUXICO — The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Inspection and Health Service, in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will conduct an aerial operation to remove feral hogs from the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge the week March 6-12.
During flight operations, the entire refuge will be closed to visitors for safety reasons.
Using a helicopter, crews canvass the refuge looking for hogs, and when found, they are targeted by trained gunners.
This will be the second operation in a month at the refuge.
“We’ve done one already, and this is a follow-up flight,” said refuge manager Ben Mense.
In years past, a single hog eradication flight operation was conducted, but beginning last year, Mense said, staff try to complete two.
During the Jan. 18-20 operation, the helicopter team was able to remove 37 feral hogs from the refuge, Mense said.
That pales in comparison to 2021’s first operation, when more than 400 pigs were taken.
The reduced numbers, Mense said, are a good sign the hogs are being kept under control on the refuge.
“We’ve been seeing less hog signs on the refuge,” he previously said. “We’ve been struggling to find hogs on the ground, and the helicopter sort of confirmed what we’ve been seeing.”
The upcoming operation, Mense said, potentially could be a short one.
The second flight “typically is not as big of an operation just because, hopefully, we don’t see as many,” he said.
With high water conditions currently on the refuge, feral hogs should be concentrated on high ground Mense noted, and easier to find.
Dates of refuge closures, he said, will depend on a number of factors, primarily the weather.
Those wishing to visit Mingo during the week of March 6-12 should call ahead at 573-222-3589 or check the refuge website first to ensure it is open, Mense said.