Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576,s-byrns@tamu.edu

Contact(s):Brent Drennan, 325-347-6459, b-drennan@tamu.edu

MASON - Mason County’s Heart of the Hill’s Fall Expo will go “hog wild” when the Texas AgriLife Extension Service conducts a special feral hog information day slated from 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sept. 23 in the Odeon Theater.

The theater is located on the west side of the courthouse square in Mason.

Five Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered - three general, one integrated pest management and one laws and regulations.

“Feral hogs have been a constant threat in the Hill Country for many years,” said Brent Drennan, AgriLife Extension agent in Mason County. “It is a general feeling that the feral hog population is increasing here and statewide.

“We want to provide landowners with the knowledge and tools they’ll need to tackle the problem."

The morning session will include presentations on feral hog and javelina biology, feral hog disease issues and a feral hog research update.

The afternoon session will include talks on the history, status and current research conducted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, along with the agency’s current regulations and permits required for feral hog control. The final presentation will feature the feral hog control methods used by AgriLife Extension Wildlife Services.

Individual pre-registration is $15 by Sept. 17 and $20 thereafter.

To pre-register and for more information call the AgriLife Extension office in Mason County at 325-347-6459 or the Hill Country Resource Conservation Development Area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center at 325-347-5005.