Dunnellon's Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve, CR 484, closed for hog hunts Nov. 17-19

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve, located at 15430 SW Highway 484 in Dunnellon (Marion County), FL, will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Nov. 17-19. Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 25 permits for this hunt have been sold.

This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on water district lands to control the damage being caused by the feral hogs to the natural habitat.

The district only allows hogs to be controlled through hunts when the damage they cause exceeds acceptable levels, and damage is occurring more frequently and with increasing severity.

Feral hogs live throughout Florida in various habitats, but prefer moist forests, swamps, and pine flatwoods. They are omnivorous and feed by rooting with their broad snouts, which can cause extensive damage to the natural habitat to such a degree they can leave an area looking like a plowed field.

Feral hogs are not native to Florida and are believed to have been introduced by explorer Hernando DeSoto as early as 1539. They can weigh more than 300 pounds and travel in herds of several females and their offspring.

For more information, please call the District’s Land Management section at 1-800-423-1476 or (352) 796-7211, ext. 4466 or visit WaterMatters.org/HogHunts.