By Randy Zellars/AGFC
ALMA – Frog Bayou Wildlife Management Area in Crawford County will be temporarily closed Dec. 4-8 in cooperation with the Arkansas Feral Hog Task Force to fight the spread of invasive feral swine in Arkansas.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services will be conducting aerial operations aimed at reducing feral hog populations near and on the WMA. The flights will be dependent on the weather.
To provide safety for the public and comply with USDA regulations, access will not be allowed during the ongoing operations. Varying weather and site-specific conditions limit the notice of specific dates of the closures.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and partnering agency staff will be on-site to maintain road and access closures.
Although the closure may temporarily disrupt some hunters and wildlife watchers’ activities, winter weather enables removal teams to cover many areas previously identified as in need of targeted operations with reduced foliage to push feral hogs into open areas and dispatch them quickly and humanely.
Used in conjunction with large-scale trapping efforts, removal via aerial operations can help fight exploding feral hog populations in areas where populations are expanding.
The AGFC and USDA APHIS would like to thank the public in advance for their patience and understanding while these activities are underway and apologize for any inconvenience related to the operation.
For additional information, please contact Ryan Farney, AGFC Feral Hog Program coordinator, at 501-382-3945 or Arkansas APHIS Director Robert Byrd at 501-835-2318.
