Last week Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed H.B. 503, also referred to as the Feral Swine Bill into law. Sponsored by State Representatives Bob Peterson (R-Sabina) and Don Jones (R-Freeport), along with Sen. Tim Schaffer, H.B. 503 prohibits the importation and hunting of feral swine and ending the practice of garbage feeding in the state.

H.B. 503 does allow a property owner or tenant to eradicate wild boar or feral swine on private or public property without a hunting license, if the person notifies the state’s division of wildlife within 24 hours and follows the division’s instructions for handling and disposing of the carcass.

Feral swine can carry at least 30 prominent viral and bacterial diseases and nearly 40 parasites that can impact people, pets, livestock and wildlife. Ohio Wildlife Services routinely samples for classical swine fever, pseudorabies and swine brucellosis. Ecological and economic losses from feral swine damage in the U.S are estimated to be greater than $1.5 billion annually, when combined with control costs.

Feral swine, as well as the practice of garbage feeding, pose serious disease risks to the state as well as the nation’s swine herd, including the possibility of introducing African swine fever.

According to the Ohio Pork Council, 44 states have some type of ban on importing feral swine, however only 16 have a total ban. With the signing of H.B. 503, Ohio is now the 17th state with such a law.

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