COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACCEPT GRANT FOR FERAL HOG ABATEMENT

  

Washington County Commissioners accepted a $15,000 grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture at their meeting this (Tuesday) morning.  The grant is for the County Hog Out Management Program (CHOMP) for feral hog abatement.  Washington County has participated in the month long Hog Out contest the past several years, but this is the first year they have been awarded the grant.  It requires that the county submit a plan and a budget for the grant money by August 10th, but that deadline can be extended.  County commissioner Luther Hueske will be working on the plan along with County Agent Kara Matheney and other wildlife agencies.  It is expected to include a year round bounty on feral hogs along with funding wildlife services for trapping.  Feral hogs do considerable damage to pastures and hay fields in the county and their population continues to increase.