Seems like every hog on our place is covered. Does anyone have a way to get them off in the field? They give me the heebeegeebees. I sprayed one down with some Adams flee spray and kilt the snot out of them. But then I had to wash the dang thing off before I skinned it. Will Rubbing Alcohol kill em?

If they are the big ones that look like small ticks at first glance, they are hog lice. They pose no threat to you as they are almost exclusive to hogs. I would not worry about them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haematopinus_suis

Just looking at them makes my skin crawl. lol
Even the Shoats have them. I'm thinking pyrethrum spray will be a safer alternative. Longer term I'm going to hang a backrubber were they most often enter into the pen to see if that helps over time?

Well, I was trying to alleviate the concern as best I could. I understand, but can't help you with the skin crawl issue.

I've found a few hogs with lice. At first I was like you. I didn't want to deal with 'em. I just hauled those hogs off and left them for the buzzards and coyotes.

Eventually, as I learned a little more, I got to where I just scrape them away with my knife. I just take the leg quarters & back straps, so I'm not skinning the entire animal.

Now, if the underside of the hog is totally covered, I might be inclined to make another donation to the buzzard buffet and the coyote cafe.

I'm getting the itches just by reading this thread. I trapped a boar a few weeks ago that was COVERED in these. As soon as I was done dealing with him, I stripped in the barn and shook my clothes out before throwing in laundry. Then proceeded to wash my hands about 20 times...eeek...

I've never saw that but man...I think I would leave it

I have heard that a creote soak on a post so the hogs will rub on it

Heebeegeebees are REAL!

Take 'em for a ride like this first before cleaning



Charlie

I actually just thought of taking my pear burner along to the trap and singeing them prior to taking just the backstraps out.

I like Charlie's "ride" idea too.

I think a burner a little bigger than pear burner would work good. We used to make burners with zerks fittings, knock out the ball bearing and spring. We used a 3 foot long 1/4 black pipe and on one end add a T and 2 elbows with grease zerks. Rig up 4 zerks as burners and you would be in business burning hair off and the lice.