MADISON, Wis. (AP) ¯ Death to the pigs!
In 1967, a lede like that would have been irrefutable evidence that the Weather Underground or Charles Manson had taken over the Associated Press. In the 21st century, however . . .
State wildlife and agriculture officials want hunters to shoot, skewer or otherwise summarily dispatch as many of the destructive, diseased porkers as possible this fall, and with plenty of prejudice.
"Shoot them on sight," implored Brad Koele, a state Department of Natural Resources wildlife damage specialist, in a statement to hunters this week.
Wisconsin has been battling the pigs since at least 2000. The DNR generally advises deer hunters to kill them every fall, but this year the agency and the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection have stepped up their campaign out of fears a pseudorabies outbreak might have been tied to wild pigs. |