Michael Mengak, a professor and wildlife outreach specialist in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, received $15,000 to prepare the Georgia Wild Hog Management Field Manual.
Wild hogs, which are not native to the U.S., can be extraordinarily destructive to forests, farms, orchards, crops and timber plantations. Total damage estimates for 2011 in 40 counties of southwest Georgia was more than $84 million.
Building upon survey research conducted across Georgia, Mengak has estimated the frequency and cost of these destructive animals, and he now is prepared to create a manual for experts throughout the state who need guidance in dealing with these invasive animals.
