Deer and Feral Hog Hunts Proposed for Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
NEWS RELEASE
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 26, 2013
CONTACT: Candice Stevenson, 321-861- 2352, Candice_stevenson@fws.gov
Deer and Feral Hog Hunts Proposed for Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Public Invited to Comment and Attend Meeting on July 8
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to allow a deer and feral hog hunt on about 6,000 acres on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Titusville, FL. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge invites the public to comment on the proposal and will hold an informational public meeting on July 8, 2013 at the Mims/Scottsmoor Public Library, 3615 Lionel Road, Mims, FL at 6 p.m. Refuge staff will present the proposal, answer questions, and take your comments.
The hunt area being proposed is north of Haulover canal on both sides of State Road 3 within the refuge boundary. While waterfowl hunting has been a traditional use on the refuge since the 1960’s, the proposal expands the hunting program to include deer and feral hogs. Feral hogs are a nuisance, invasive species on the refuge causing damage to roads, dikes, and trails and occasionally destroying sea turtle nests. Wildlife vehicle strikes are common along major roads on the refuge and half of strikes involve feral hogs.
The proposed hunt will not eradicate or control feral hog populations, but will remove some animals and possibly lessen the amount of damage and vehicle strikes.
Please ensure your comments are received by July 22, 2013, to be included in the development of an environmental assessment for the proposed hunt. The public may submit comments at the public meeting or via mail: Merritt Island NWR, Attn: Upland Hunt, P.O. Box 2683, Titusville, FL, 32781, or via e-mail to: merrittisland@fws.gov.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov/southeast. Connect with us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/usfwssoutheast, follow our tweets atwww.twitter.com/usfwssoutheast, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws, and download photos from our Flickrpage at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwssoutheast.
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