The “Impacts of Feral Hogs on Watersheds and Recommendations for Management in Austin County and Surrounding Areas” public event will be held May 3 in Cat Spring to address the impact of feral hogs on the Mill Creek Watershed.

A large feral hog in a gated trap. The dark brown hog's tusks are visible as it looks toward the camera through a fence.
An Austin County meeting on feral hogs is set for May 5. Hogs can be significant sources of nonpoint pollution in the watershed. Traps like this one can help control their population and protect watersheds. (Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo)

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Mill Creek Watershed Partnership are hosting the event, which will run from 6-8 p.m. at Cat Spring Agricultural Society Hall, 13035 Hall Road.

The event is free, and dinner will be served, but an RSVP is requested at https://tx.ag/AustinEventReg.

One general Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education unit is available.

“Feral hogs have been a known issue in the Mill Creek watershed,” said Evgenia Spears, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension specialist and Mill Creek Watershed coordinator, Bryan-College Station.

“Along with numerous negative impacts on native ecosystems and agriculture, these invasive species are detrimental to water quality as they congregate around perennial water sources to drink and wallow,” she said. “In the process they deposit their waste in the stream.”

The main goal of this meeting is to bring stakeholders and feral hog experts together for a meaningful discussion about approaches to feral hog control in the area, Spears said.

Feral hog topics and speakers

The meeting will include expert speakers from AgriLife Extension and Texas Wildlife Services. Topics and speakers will be:

  • Welcome and event overview — Stacie Villarreal, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Austin County, and Spears.
  • Bounty programs: Experiences from Texas counties — Jake Mowrer, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension soil fertility specialist, Bryan-College Station.
  • Past feral hog programs in Austin County and management recommendations — Mikayla Killam, AgriLife Extension wildlife damage management program specialist, Bryan-College Station, and Jacob Hetzel, Texas Wildlife Services wildlife damage management biologist, Austin and Travis counties.
  • Feral Hog impacts and sources of funding for feral hog control in Austin County — Killam, Hetzel.

There will also be a period for public discussion to cover possible options and solutions moving forward.

Susan Himes
 
Susan Himes is a writer and media relations specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife. She writes news releases and features from science-based information generated by the agency. She also covers human interest stories and events across the state.
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