Use of Kaput Hog Bait Making Cautious Progress in Louisiana

With just three meetings under its belt, the Feral Hog Task Force at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is rooting around for a solution to a growing problem. One possible solution is Kaput, whose active ingredient, Warfarin, is proven to work on quadrupeds, such as hogs.  Kaput also kills other animals, such as black bears, which the LDWAF has worked to de-list as an endangered species.   The poison is delivered from traps mixed with feed that attracts bears and hogs alike.“The black bears can easily get into the feeders meant for feral hogs,” said Jim LaCour, state wildlife veterinarian with LDWAF and a task force member.  “We know that they will feed as long as they can, which could easily mean a fatal dose for bears.”LaCour admitted it was an effective deterrent for the hogs, a continuing threat to property and lives. “If they consume it for four or five days, it's highly toxic,” LaCour said. “It's nearly 100 percent lethal.”