Field testing of a new feral hog control method experienced a major setback recently after nearly 200 birds were found dead.
During a regular agricultural extension report to Wichita County Commissioners, extension agent David Graf reported the issue at a study underway in an undisclosed North Texas location.
Hog-Gone, with active ingredient sodium nitrite, was thought to be the next great hope for feral hog control.

More:
https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/ne...exas/629868002/

I knew it.

It's hard to poison just 1 particular animal.

Interesting article when they break it down. Bait crumbs outside the feeder and mainly house sparrows.

While the number of birds taken is within the tolerances described within the environmental assessment, it is not acceptable to us as wildlife biologists,

After working with this product and hogs more than a decade now, how did they NOT know that hogs were sloppy eaters?????

Mainly house sparrows and such were affected in this one limited test, but what happens when you move to different environmental areas?

They tallied nearly 200 bird kills, but you have to wonder how many dead birds were scavenged and not tallied. How many birds managed to fly beyond the immediate area and die?

200 over 14 sites. Being that invasive sparrow densities are extremely high it’s not that surprising.

I image thier studies areas are pretty big. Being that it killed those itty bitty birds that quickly, probably not to many fly away out of control area.

Interesting study, be cool to see the results and changes.

The study found success in keeping most non-target animals out of the feeder and they also showed animals who feed off the carcasses of hogs who ingest Hog-Gone were not negatively impacted.

Bobo,

there are over 15 native species of sparrows regularly found in Texas.

English House Sparrows are rarely found in natural habitat.

So, the sparrows killed in this study most likely are the native species, not the introducted English House Sparrow.

The native sparrows play an important role in spreading native grass and plant seeds, and are important to protect.

Don't mess with mother nature. This is just to appease a few folks who complained the most to the ag comm. You going to bait the whole state... Lots of money made off of hogs as well. I can only see this effective in large crop areas but that is a ton of bait and maintenance constantly.

Rarely? Seen them throughout the countryside. End of the day that’s 14 birds per site, that not what most would call an enviomental disaster, probably doesn’t even move the needle much as far as impact.
Like I said be interesting to see the tweeks and all the info once published.

Pointed articles with limited info on ongoing scientific studies really do both sides a disfavor. As seen in this thread already

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) is dedicated to finding new and effective tools to control wild hog populations throughout our state. One of these tools might one day include a poison that can be safely and ethically placed on the landscape. However, the concerns brought about by this product (Kaput) are too grave to overlook. Therefore, the MDWFP does not endorse and will not use this product. As stewards of the lands of Mississippi, we must always strive to make decisions based on their overall impact to the natural environment.

As the great naturalist Aldo Leopold once said “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”

Bobo,

I am trying to track down a copy of the actual study.

Will post it if I obtain a copy.