Contrary to the reassurances in a recent article, wild pigs continue to be raised throughout the state at captive hunting preserves, threatening the environment, agriculture and public safety ("Last year's wild boar invasion fears recede," Aug. 18). These facilities stock semi-tame animals in fenced enclosures to be shot for guaranteed trophies. Using public tax dollars to kill 50 pigs who should never have been roaming freely in the first place is not a sustainable or sensible policy.
Former Governor Pataki had the opportunity to address this issue in 2003, but he vetoed a bill that would have put commonsense policies in place to reduce the damage these and other captive-bred animals can wreak on native species.
A 2010 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture clearly connects these commercial operations with sightings of the animals throughout the state. According to the USDA, "Escape of swine from shooting preserves, breeding facilities and intentional releases of swine by hunters interested in pursuing them in New York are factors that need to be considered if the eradication efforts in the state are to be successful." These operations exacerbate the problem by adding to the overpopulation of an invasive species.
State officials must take immediate action by shutting down the problem as its source — the captive hunts and commercial breeding facilities that needlessly add to the feral pig population in our communities.
BRIAN SHAPIRO
New York State Director
The Humane Society of the United States
Woodstock