The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host a Rolling Plains Wild Pig Management Workshop April 25 in Wichita Falls.
“There’s a tremendous interest in controlling the wild pigs that are a menace to both rural and urban landowners in this region,” said David Graf, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Wichita County. “This workshop will meet the needs of both.”
Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the program will begin at 9:10 a.m. in the Region 9 Education Center, 301 Texas 11 Loop.
The cost is $20 with preregistration, $25 at the door or $10 for those who opt not to eat the catered lunch. For meal planning purposes, preregistration is requested by April 16 to [email protected] or 940-716-8610. Registration can also be mailed to: Wichita County Extension, 600 Scott St. Suite 200, Wichita Falls, Texas 76301.
Attendees can earn four Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education credits—three general and one integrated pest management.
Topics and speakers on the program will include:
Toxicant research update and wild pig laws and regulations by Justin Foster, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Kerrville; and Tyler Reed, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden, Wichita Falls.
An overview of wild pigs: Biology, impacts and damage in watersheds by Josh Helcel, Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, College Station.
Wild pig control options with Adam Henry, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Plant and Health Inspection Service-Wildlife Services, Fort Worth.
Following a catered lunch, the afternoon will include concurrent sessions and participants can choose which to attend, Graf said.
The afternoon session topics and speakers are as follows:
Understanding and applying control methods in urban and suburban areas by Henry and Katrena Mitchell, City of Wichita Falls animal services.
Understanding and applying control methods in rural and agricultural areas by Randy Smith, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services, Fort Worth.
There will also be a Wild Pig Workshop Speakers Panel with question and answer session.
Outdoor concurrent demonstrations will include agricultural uses for drone technology by Smith and Ian Gates, Texas A&M AgriLife Research research associate, Somerville; and snaring/trapping techniques for wild pigs by Henry and Helcel.
The meeting will adjourn at 3 p.m. For more information, contact Graf at 940-716-8610 or [email protected].