Michigan government raids pig farms, forces farmer to shoot his own pigs

[Littlejoe]

NaturalNews) NaturalNews can now confirm that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has, in total violation of the Fourth Amendment, conducted two armed raids on pig farmers in that state, one in Kalkaska County at Fife Lake and another in Cheboygan County. Staging raids involving six vehicles and ten armed men, DNA conducted unconstitutional, illegal and arguably criminal armed raids on these two farms with the intent of shooting all the farmers' pigs under a bizarre new "Invasive Species Order" (ISO) that has suddenly declared traditional livestock to be an invasive species.



Learn more: NaturalNews exclusive: Michigan government unleashes armed raids on small pig farmers, forces farmer to shoot all his own pigs

[mattfivefour]

You are not going to "learn more" at the Natural News site ... nor on the countless libertarian sites carrying this story. This is not a ban on pigs per se, but on dangerous wild hogs that were being bred in captivity, some of which were escaping into the wilds. They breed like rabbits! And they are extremely nasty and dangerous. People have been attacked by these things and they try to cross-breed with good domestic hogs. There is a very good reason for this ban. Try reading reputable news sources. One is the local Michigan news outlet Click On Detroit ... it is the website for WDIV TV which is known for its crusading against bad government, crooks, and rip-offs. The REAL story can be found at Wild boars to be banned from Michigan | News - Home

[WKUHilltopper]

NaturalNews) NaturalNews can now confirm that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has, in total violation of the Fourth Amendment, conducted two armed raids on pig farmers in that state, one in Kalkaska County at Fife Lake and another in Cheboygan County. Staging raids involving six vehicles and ten armed men, DNA conducted unconstitutional, illegal and arguably criminal armed raids on these two farms with the intent of shooting all the farmers' pigs under a bizarre new "Invasive Species Order" (ISO) that has suddenly declared traditional livestock to be an invasive species.



Learn more: NaturalNews exclusive: Michigan government unleashes armed raids on small pig farmers, forces farmer to shoot all his own pigs

This is pretty bizarre. How is the state prohibiting this from happening at "factory farms"? In one of the related articles the author says "I am hereby calling for the armed citizens’ arrest of DNR officials..."

With a hunting license, you can hunt wild hogs all year here in KY. But I don't think they're around where I live (not that I know many farmers anymore). Does Michigan have an open season all year long? I would think this would take care of the issue if is that much of a problem.

[Carl]

One of the farmers was interviewed on WJR Radio this morning. He said that there were around 10 DNR personnel that showed up and that they had sidearms. They did not threaten they just came and looked at the hogs and left. He said that the state has developed a list of criteria to judge whether or not a hog is wild. His statement was that many hogs, domestic or wild have some of the traits.

At least some of the farms are private hunting places where clients come to hunt and shoot pigs. But some sound like small family farms that are in the business of selling hogs to market.

I can accept that the state's concern is wild hogs. But many of the wild hogs are feral pigs that have escaped from farms. These feral hogs can be a real problem. Perhaps some of our brothers or sisters from Texas can tell of the experience with them in Texas. But they are in most states now.

[WKUHilltopper]

One of the farmers was interviewed on WJR Radio this morning. He said that there were around 10 DNR personnel that showed up and that they had sidearms. They did not threaten they just came and looked at the hogs and left. He said that the state has developed a list of criteria to judge whether or not a hog is wild. His statement was that many hogs, domestic or wild have some of the traits.

At least some of the farms are private hunting places where clients come to hunt and shoot pigs. But some sound like small family farms that are in the business of selling hogs to market.

I can accept that the state's concern is wild hogs. But many of the wild hogs are feral pigs that have escaped from farms. These feral hogs can be a real problem. Perhaps some of our brothers or sisters from Texas can tell of the experience with them in Texas. But they are in most states now.

Armed Natural Resource employees?? Would seem to me that's an implied threat.

[SteveJM]

One of the farmers was interviewed on WJR Radio this morning. He said that there were around 10 DNR personnel that showed up and that they had sidearms. They did not threaten they just came and looked at the hogs and left. He said that the state has developed a list of criteria to judge whether or not a hog is wild. His statement was that many hogs, domestic or wild have some of the traits.

At least some of the farms are private hunting places where clients come to hunt and shoot pigs. But some sound like small family farms that are in the business of selling hogs to market.

I can accept that the state's concern is wild hogs. But many of the wild hogs are feral pigs that have escaped from farms. These feral hogs can be a real problem. Perhaps some of our brothers or sisters from Texas can tell of the experience with them in Texas. But they are in most states now.

Escaped feral pigs are a problem here in Michigan as Carl and I know. People who raise them for hunting are failing to contain them, and the pigs are hurting crops and can spread disease. Here is a link from last year-Feral swine update: Michigan agricultural leaders turn out in support of invasive species ban | MLive.com

If people want to raise feral pigs and can't or wont' contain them and thus fail to protect the income source of their farmer neighbors, including dairy farms, then they should be out of business.

[mattfivefour]

Armed Natural Resource employees?? Would seem to me that's an implied threat.

Bro, like all peace officers everywhere in Canada and the US, game wardens, rangers, and conservation officers are armed. Prior to their being armed these peace officers suffered the highest number of homicides at the hands of poachers and other law-breakers than any other law enforcement personnel in the United States and Canada. In fact their death rate was 12 times higher than that of FBI agents. So there is no implied threat intended by their carrying firearms other than "If you want to try to shoot me as I attempt to do my job by enforcing the law, I will shoot back."

[WKUHilltopper]

Bro, like all peace officers everywhere in Canada and the US, game wardens, rangers, and conservation officers are armed.

I never considered the idea of a Natural Resource employee as a "peace officer" or "game warden". Maybe they call them different in Michigan. In KY, these Natural Resource people would be the guys walking around coal mines, oil rigs and gas lines...and they're not armed. KY Dept of Agriculture employees and inspectors are not armed either.

[mattfivefour]

I never considered the idea of a Natural Resource employee as a "peace officer" or "game warden". Maybe they call them different in Michigan. In KY, these Natural Resource people would be the guys walking around coal mines, oil rigs and gas lines...and they're not armed. KY Dept of Agriculture employees and inspectors are not armed either.

Not to be contrary, bro, but quoting from the Revised Statutes of the State of Kentucky:

150.095 Conservation officers may bear arms -- Use of sirens and flashing lights on
vehicles.

(1) Conservation officers are authorized to keep and bear arms upon their person, concealed or otherwise, in the same manner as all other peace officers, and to exercise the use of such arms to such extent as the same may be necessary in the discharge of their duties.

(2) The commissioner may authorize conservation officers and other departmental personnel to use sirens and suitable visible flashing lights on their vehicles in the performance of their duties.

The text of all current Kentucky Fish & Wildlife laws is available at Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources - Kentucky Revised Statutes Just click on "Chapter 150 Fish & Wildlife Resources.

Now I agree with Ag employees per se, but I believe these were natural resources officers acting in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

[WKUHilltopper]

Not to be contrary, brother, but from the Revised Statutes of the State of Kentucky:

150.095 Conservation officers may bear arms -- Use of sirens and flashing lights on
vehicles.

(1) Conservation officers are authorized to keep and bear arms upon their person, concealed or otherwise, in the same manner as all other peace officers, and to exercise the use of such arms to such extent as the same may be necessary in the discharge of their duties.

(2) The commissioner may authorize conservation officers and other departmental
personnel to use sirens and suitable visible flashing lights on their vehicles in the
performance of their duties.

The text of all current Kentucky Fish & Wildlife laws is available at Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources - Kentucky Revised Statutes

Yeah? So? These are game wardens. Not a Natural Resources employee.

[mattfivefour]

I think we have a different definition of Natural Resources, bro. It means different things in different jurisdictions. Here it encompasses Fish and Wildlife. I can see from what you wrote that in Kentucky that the terms refers to people who inspect coal mines, oil rigs and gas lines. They would never, I should imagine, ever need to be armed!

But those are not the same as the Michigan state employees referred to as engaging in the pig farm visits.

[YeuEmMaiMai]

The government is totally wack now a days

so the MI DNR shows up to a family farm armed without doing an investigation to see if they are actually doing what claimed? That is a clear indication that they are not doing their jobs right..... did they have evidence? did they have a proper search warrant?, etc?

all of you supporters of this type of behavior can go back to putting your head into the sand now.....the rest of us do understand how our freedoms are being stipped one at a time........ by the government using just about any excuse they can......

Suspected ferral pig farn?

1. Investigate issue by talking to witnesses
2. do some survailence and document findings
3. when you have gathered enoough evidence, get a search warrant
4. then you show up and do what is applicable by law (ie gather more evidence on property)
5. file the approperiate charges and close the business if applicable.....

[Carl]

The government is totally wack now a days

so the MI DNR shows up to a family farm armed without doing an investigation to see if they are actually doing what claimed? That is a clear indication that they are not doing their jobs right..... did they have evidence? did they have a proper search warrant?, etc?

all of you supporters of this type of behavior can go back to putting your head into the sand now.....the rest of us do understand how our freedoms are being stipped one at a time........ by the government using just about any excuse they can......

Suspected ferral pig farn?

1. Investigate issue by talking to witnesses
2. do some survailence and document findings
3. when you have gathered enoough evidence, get a search warrant
4. then you show up and do what is applicable by law (ie gather more evidence on property)
5. file the approperiate charges and close the business if applicable.....

I agree that the state does not have a right to just come on a farm and destroy/order the destruction of domestic hogs (that just happen to have characteristics of feral pigs. Even if I choose to raise wild pigs on a farm the state has no right to just kill them. If the state's concern is the pigs getting out they can regulate the fence construction and inspect that.

Wild pigs is becoming a world wide problem. In Germany the government hires professionals that hunt problem pigs. In the US a bounty would work just as well. A bounty on wolves surely took care of the wolf population in the lower 48.