Mariposa County allocates $10,000 from Fish and Wildlife fines for feral hog mitigation

Mariposa County supervisors voted Jan. 7 to transfer $10,000 from the county’s Fish and Wildlife fines and fees fund to the Agricultural Commissioner's budget to support a feral hog mitigation pilot addressing growing damage to agricultural lands and watersheds.

Agricultural Commissioner Monica Nielsen told the board the county recently took responsibility for local wildlife mitigation services after a prior federal arrangement ended, and staff have documented a sharp rise in feral swine populations. “Pigs can have 2 and a half litters a year ... a sow will have a litter on the ground and they can rebreed within 3 days of having that litter. So that is how fast these pigs can recreate a next generation,” Nielsen said, urging the…