Friend Valentina came yesterday and told me about something that happened at her sister's house. Her sister was home alone, when at dusk her dog that was outside began to bark in a frenzy. She grabbed a shotgun and went outside and saw a black hairy critter advancing toward the patio. She thought it was a black bear, whose population is increasing in Mississippi.

Then the critter got close enough for her to realize it was a large tusked black boar. She shot it and her brother came and got it. He is going to pit roast it and eat it. (Not for me, thank you--wild boar can be really gamey unless the scent glands near the tail are removed correctly. Also pork carries trichinosis. Farmed pork is treated for this, but the wild hogs may have it.)

I had just heard an official of the Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries on MPB that morning say that it is against the law to harm black bears--fines, prison sentences and all--
BUT there is open season 24/7, 365 days of the year on wild hogs. They are multiplying in such numbers they are destroying wild birds who nest on the ground, and eating small game, and are very destructive all around.

Valentina's sister lives at the verge of a swampy area with an unfenced yard, and the long drought we've had is probably causing the feral swine to come out looking for food and water-namely the dog's food sitting on the patio.

susil