Feral pigs have been rooting up controversy in Michigan for over a decade, but now the fight is coming to a head. A federal judge has given Upper Peninsula hunting ranches exactly one year to get rid of their feral hogs or face state enforcement.
At the center of the dispute are Russian boars, once a prized species for guided hunts behind high fences. State wildlife officials call them an invasive threat. Ranchers call them a livelihood. The legal battle has dragged on for years, but this latest ruling marks the beginning of the end for game preserves still harboring the pigs.
The clock is ticking. Come next July, the state will no longer be asking nicely.
A Long Road to the Deadline
Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) first banned Russian boars and other wild swine in 2010 under its Invasive Species Order, calling them a major ecological threat. The DNR identified the pigs using physical traits like curly tails, dark coloration, and long snouts.
Ranchers pushed back, arguing these guidelines were vague and unfairly targeted heritage pig breeds raised for sport hunting or farming.
One of the central figures in the resistance has been Roger Turunen, a farmer and ranch owner who claimed the state was overstepping. Some ranches reported that undercover DNR agents posed as hunters to gain access and gather DNA evidence, a tactic that added fuel to accusations of government overreach.
What the Court Ordered
The federal ruling gives ranches until July 29, 2026, to eliminate any pigs that meet the DNR’s invasive criteria. After that date, the state may enforce the ban as it sees fit without further notice or legal delays.
Why the State Cares
Feral hogs are considered one of the most destructive invasive species in the United States. The pigs root through soil, destroy crops, compete with native wildlife, and spread diseases like pseudorabies and swine brucellosis. The USDA estimates that feral hogs cause more than $1.5 billion in damages annually across the country.
In Michigan, the DNR argues that even a small population could explode quickly. Feral pigs are prolific breeders, and escapees from hunting preserves have been documented in several counties. The agency maintains that stopping the boars’ spread is critical to protecting ecosystems and agriculture.
Ted Nugent vs. Michigan
Ted Nugent entered the debate during a joint hearing before Michigan lawmakers. Nugent testified that he had been sued over pigs that he claimed were neither feral nor invasive, and said the entire system was flawed. “There is no such thing as a Russian boar,” he told the House Government Operations Committee.
At the hearing, lawmakers presented evidence of a DNR sting operation on Nugent’s own ranch. Undercover agents were paid to shoot pigs on his fenced property to test whether they met the invasive threshold.
The result cleared Nugent; the pigs were deemed domestic, not feral. However, similar operations led to other farmers being forced to remove animals or face penalties.
Nugent and Republican lawmakers sharply criticized the DNR over what they called heavy-handed tactics. They called for investigative oversight and demanded transparency on genetic testing protocols.
A Broader Crackdown
The number of hunting preserves raising pigs in Michigan has dropped sharply since the state began enforcement. Lawmakers from rural districts say that fewer than a half-dozen ranches still operate today, down from more than 70 a decade ago.
States like Texas and Florida have also launched aggressive campaigns to manage feral hog populations. Michigan’s latest ruling now sets a firm timeline for its own crackdown.
What Happens Next
Ranches that fail to remove their pigs by the 2026 deadline could face legal penalties, including fines, the seizure of animals, or permanent closure. The DNR has said it will pursue enforcement swiftly once the grace period ends.
For ranchers and hunters who built businesses around these pigs, time is running out. For state officials and conservationists, this ruling is a long-awaited green light to finally root out what they see as one of Michigan’s most damaging invasive threats.
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