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wildlife

Boars and Pythons become an income stream?

Matt McSpadden

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posted 2 months ago

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I just watched some episode of something on Youtube, talking about the wild boar problem in Texas and the python problem in Florida. How hunters are killing thousands in an attempt to deal with the problem. It got me thinking.

What they do with all those carcasses?

You could eat a certain amount, but that is still a lot. What about a compost business? Combine pigs with some woodchips and you've got an awesome compost business. Or maybe a massive black soldier fly larva company eating pythons?

The problem becomes the solution?

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Jay Angler

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posted 2 months ago

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This link will trigger a "request for info", but will let you see enough to confirm that the Miami Herald is suggesting people eat their python problem.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/climate-change/article287420970.html

In fact, the pythons in the study published in Scientific Report were actually farm-raised in Thailand and Vietnam, where the snake is a delicacy and part of the culinary culture. Natusch himself also has sampled python barbecued, slow-cooked, sauteed and as curry and jerky. He described it as a white meat with the texture of calamari with a taste he likens to chicken.

There are people who catch wild boar, castrate them, and then let them go again, because the meat several months later is much preferable and so long as there's food around, they tend not to wander too far.

If nothing else, one would think they'd make good dog and cat food. I'd do the black soldier fly approach in a warm climate (I'm just outside the native range of BSF, but my chickens would be thrilled!) over straight composting. Yes, I do compost animals when I need to, but the tendency to get smelly is high, and there's so much lignin in wood chips that things don't compost evenly. Personally, I think there are much better things to do with both of these animals than just composting them.

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Anne Miller

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posted 2 months ago

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Those wild boars are actually feral hogs. The females breed like rabbits.

They ate all my walking onions.

We have a place on our property where we put all the feral pig carcass and scraped from deer hunts.

The buzzards clean everything up so when we go back later there are only bones. There is probably something that likes those bones.

We had a problem with snakes aka rattlers until we got a cat.

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Alder Burns

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posted 2 months ago

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It is only our culture's prejudices, and affluence around food choices, that keeps these abundant protein source from being fully utilized as human food. At the very least, they could be collected and rendered down for protein supplement in pet or poultry food....

Deane Adams

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posted 2 months ago

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There are some areas of the south east that the feral pig problem is getting out of hand. Farm and crop damage into the high dollar range. Often the pigs will be shot from the air using helos and with a ground crew following to harvest and dress the larger ones. Other places are using large baited traps to help reduce the local numbers of the feral pigs, again the larger ones inspected and butchered.

I have eaten snake a few times, it's an OK meal. Mostly rattlers, a few that I caught and prepared. Pythons would just make a larger serving. I understand that they are also becoming a problem in some areas.

I think it all comes down to what one is use to eating and how willing one is to try new "things".

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Jake Esselstyn

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posted 2 months ago

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Feral pigs and pythons can both taste fine. I've only had python once. It was good. The pigs' flavor seems to depend on their age and what they're eating. Generally, the young animals have tasted good. Some others have had overpowering flavors that no amount of garlic, vinegar, and/or soy sauce could overcome. There's a program here for hunters and fishers to donate game to local food programs. I'd imagine more wild pork than venison gets donated...

As far as composting them goes, I think there are just much easier sources of nitrogen-rich materials. The pigs are intelligent, extremely secretive, and hunting them requires real effort, at least in this area. Maybe it's easier to catch pythons, but I would guess salvaging restaurant waste would still be easier.

Matt McSpadden

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posted 2 months ago

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Jake Esselstyn wrote:As far as composting them goes, I think there are just much easier sources of nitrogen-rich materials.

I don't completely disagree, but I also don't completely agree. I'm not suggesting someone go hunting simply for compost, I'm suggesting maybe someone follow people who are already doing it, and use the waste stream. I would also argue that wild boars (feral hogs) would have cleaner and more nutrient dense material for composting than most modern restaurants.

William Bronson

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posted 2 months ago

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I wonder how these food sources would affect the taste of chicken eggs/meat?
Chickens on wood chips is a great way to compost anyway, added protein would be a bonus.
Invasive carp are a similar source of protein and fats.

Fats-pig lard as a liquid fuel source?
Pig skulls for sale on Etsy?
Snake skin for belts?

Best use would be a way to treat the meat and remove the boar taint/gaminess.

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Darren Robertson

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posted 2 months ago

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Of course Caesar must approve of any plan. Our family has many members who harvest feral hogs. Which are fine to share in family. But what you do with them has strings other then personal consumption. Our county probably would not care about composting out away from everyone/thing. Other counties probably would throw a hissy.

John C Daley

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In Australia we have an issue with the pigs harbouring disease and I think ticks as well.

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Kevin D Roberts

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posted 2 months ago

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Anne Miller wrote:We had a problem with snakes aka rattlers until we got a cat.

Are you implying your house/barn cats killed rattlesnakes?

I am buying land with a known rattler problem and am trying to figure out the best solution, as I have a quiver of young kids. I am 99% opposed to getting cats. But if that will solve my rattler problem, I would consider it. Are you SURE it was the cats? Was it immediate, or did they kill the young population until the older one died out? Did you lose any cats?

I also have a big ground squirrel problem, but I think I'd prefer a rat terrier. I don't think the terrier will kill the snakes, albeit one may be overly interested, and I would be much more disappointed to lose an LGD or terrier to a snake.

Matt McSpadden

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Location: Central Maine (Zone 5a)

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Kevin D Roberts wrote:Are you implying your house/barn cats killed rattlesnakes?

I wonder if the cat just killed all the mice and small rodents that the snake would have fed on... no food, and they leave.

Kevin D Roberts

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Matt McSpadden wrote:I wonder if the cat just killed all the mice and small rodents that the snake would have fed on... no food, and they leave.

Well, I feel a bit silly to not have thought of that obvious answer... Perhaps a rat terrier and a cat will end up being the right solution--to out compete the snakes. As much as I like the little critters, other than rattlers, I may need to accept reality on this one.

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