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Mariposa Supervisors Approve $10,000 to Start County Feral Hog Mitigation Program
Summary
The board approved a $10,000 transfer from Fish & Wildlife fees to the agricultural commissioner to fund traps, cameras and startup costs for a new county feral-hog mitigation program. Ag Commissioner Monica Nielsen described rising feral swine populations and the use of FFA-built traps and depredation permits.
The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 Jan. 7 to transfer $10,000 from the county's Fish and Wildlife fees and fines fund to the Agricultural Commissioner's budget to start an in-house feral hog mitigation program.
Agricultural Commissioner Monica Nielsen told the board that wetter conditions have increased forage and litter sizes, producing faster population growth: "We're looking at litters of 10 to 12" versus previous averages of four to five, she said, and sows can rebreed within days. Nielsen cited damage to watersheds, deer and agricultural crops and noted public-health risks from feral swine defecating in waterways.
The plan uses a county wildlife specialist who will obtain depredation permits and work with homeowners. Nielsen said the county shifted from a USDA contract to its own program in 2022'023, hired a wildlife specialist in May 2024 and worked with Mariposa FFA to build 12 pig traps at a lower cost than purchasing them out of state.
During public comment, a resident asked whether hunters could harvest pigs for food; Nielsen said there is no statewide hunting season for feral hogs in California, and that mitigation proceeds via depredation permits and cooperation with Fish and Game. The program will deploy a contractor (arch wildlife specialist) to set traps and cameras, then coordinate permit work with property owners.
Clerk and Ag staff said the expenditure is authorized under Fish and Game Code section 13103 (predator-control and other expenditures that benefit fish and wildlife) and that the local Fish and Game Association had raised concerns but the county and the game warden agreed the project is consistent with the code.
The transfer was approved as a four-fifths budget action (required because funds move between budgets) and will pay for traps, camera monitoring and startup costs as the county builds the program.
Board members asked the Ag office to publish clear contact information and instructions for property owners; Nielsen provided an after-hours contact path at (209) 966-2075 and said residents could ask for the wildlife specialist.
