Mingo to close for feral hog control

PUXICO, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation will conduct a one-day aerial operation to control feral hogs in Mingo National Wildlife Refuge sometime between today and March 28.

A helicopter will fly over the refuge with department personnel targeting and shooting feral hogs. For public safety, the entire refuge will be closed to public entry on the day of the shoot, with all roads entering the refuge gated. The closure includes all access to the refuge by foot, bicycle or horseback.

The exact date hasn't been determined because of circumstances such as weather, the conservation department said.

Anyone planning to visit Mingo may check fws.gov/refuge/mingo or facebook.com/MingoNWR for updates or call the refuge office at 573-222-3589 to receive an update on the date of the one-day closure.

Feral hogs are an aggressive, nonnative species that can reproduce quickly and hurt native plants and animals of the refuge. The hogs forage on eggs of ground-nesting birds and eat reptiles, amphibians and small mammals. They also compete with native species such as deer and turkey for food sources such as acorns. Their rooting and wallowing behavior alters the native habitats of the refuge.

Hunters looking for legal game species on the refuge are permitted to shoot feral hogs. However, hunting specifically for feral hogs is not allowed in Mingo because hunters' activities may interfere with refuge eradication efforts.

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge is on Highway 51 one mile north of Puxico.

Pertinent address:

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Puxico, Mo.