TIFTON — In January 2024, the Georgia Feral Hog Task Force — a multi-agency collaboration between the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts, and the University of Georgia — announced a new trap rental pilot program with the Middle South Georgia Soil & Water Conservation District. The rental program is open to anyone in the Middle South Georgia SWCD impacted by feral hogs and who attends the training workshop.

The partnering agencies will host a training workshop 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 29 at the Tifton USDA Service Center, 1468 Carpenter Road in Tifton. This training workshop (or one like it) is required to be able to rent a trap and is only open to landowners in Ben Hill, Brooks, Colquitt, Crisp, Irwin, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth counties.

Topics will include wild pig biology, regulations and laws, personal protective equipment and carcass disposal, demonstration on setup and use of the Pig Brig trapping system.

There is no cost to attend the workshop, but space is limited to the first 30 registrants. Pre-registration is required. More details and registration information are available at www.GACD.us/events.