ST. MARKS, Fla. (WCTV) – St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is conducting aerial operations this week to manage feral hogs that officials say are causing widespread damage to the refuge’s land and wildlife.
Wildlife officials say feral hogs uproot native plants, destroy wetlands and prey on native animals. The damage also threatens federally protected wildlife, including the frosted flatwoods salamander, according to supervisory Wildlife Biologist Amanda Bessler.
“We’ve even seen that they have rooted up and damaged a lot of those wetlands that they used to lay eggs in,” she said. “Hogs pretty much eat anything and everything they can.”
The biologist said hogs have severely damaged one pond, where roughly one-fifth of the habitat was destroyed. She added that the refuge is responsible for protecting species that are at risk of being endangered or becoming extinct.
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The refuge is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct aerial hog management using trained federal staff in helicopters. Project leader Jon Wallace said aerial operations are necessary because much of the refuge is too remote to access on foot.
“There will be an employee of USDA sitting in the back seat of the helicopter with a shotgun,” Wallace said. “They will be shooting those feral swine from the air as they see them.”
Wallace added that hogs have also damaged levees and, in some cases, chased visitors.
The operations began Tuesday and will continue through Thursday. During that time, all trails along Lighthouse Road are closed. The Lighthouse Levee Trail remains open, but portions of the Florida National Scenic Trail are temporarily rerouted.
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