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First Family Of Wild Hogs Released In WyomingTo Combat Invasive Species
CASPER, WY - A controversial new approach to prairie land management, Wyoming Game and Fish has announced the successful release of the state’s first family of wild hogs into the open plains just west of Douglas. The move, according to officials, is intended to “naturally root out invasive weeds” using the pigs’ notorious foraging behavior.
“We’ve tried chemicals, goats, interns, and even a flamethrower once,” said Game and Fish spokesperson Tammy Ledbetter. “But nothing seems to work quite like a 400-pound feral hog with a bad attitude and an iron stomach.”
The family, consisting of a boar named “Rutabaga,” a sow named “Mildred,” and their seven nearly-identical piglets, was imported from a private ranch in Arkansas after undergoing a brief orientation at the Cheyenne Welcome Center.
“This is about restoring balance,” said Dr. Carl Tibbins, a wildlife ecologist who allegedly signed off on the plan during what he admits was “a really weird staff meeting.”
According to Game and Fish, the hogs are expected to dig up the root systems of noxious weeds like cheatgrass, Canada thistle, and “whatever that scratchy green stuff is that makes your dog itchy.”
However, not everyone is thrilled.
“They’re wild hogs, not botanists,” said rancher Travis Dooling, whose fence was allegedly uprooted within 14 minutes of the release. “One of them tried to mate with my ATV.”
Local environmental groups have raised concerns over the long-term impact of releasing feral swine into an ecosystem famous for its delicate balance of wildlife, livestock, and quietude.
Game and Fish insists they’ve put safeguards in place. Each hog has been tagged with a GPS collar and fitted with a tiny, state-issued cowboy hat so officials can more easily identify them from helicopters. “The hats are purely for morale,” added Ledbetter. “Ours, not the pigs’.”
Meanwhile, the pig family appears to be thriving. They’ve already cleared a 2-acre patch of cheatgrass, eaten the wiring out of a weather station, and become minor celebrities in Glenrock.
Wyoming Game and Fish has tentatively scheduled a second release later this fall if what’s left of the prairies still allows for it.