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Karen Davis's avatar

As far as invasive species go, our species, obviously, is the most invasive species on the planet. Many of the nonhuman "invaders" of nonnative habitats were imported into those habitats by human beings through various routes both intentionally and unintentionally. What this report describes however goes way beyond any form of rational response to problematically invasive hogs. This behavior is correctly described as sadistic, just like the chicken roping contests, cockfighting, dogfighting, conventional rodeos and other staged animal abusing rituals of entertainment. Texas and Wyoming seem particularly proud to cultivate their state identities in terms of their delight in animal subjugation. Once again, great reporting on a violently depraved subcultural amusement.

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Mark Caponigro's avatar

Thanks for the powerful reporting of a very sad story. And don't punish yourself unfairly for being too trusting in 2019!

It seems that feral hogs in North America are the new big illustration of how environmental ethics and animal protection ethics ("animal rights") can so often collide; they join white-tailed deer, among others, in that unfortunate role. We have read recently that feral hogs are by far the worst and most destructive of invasive species. Who knows?, it could be. But the hogs themselves are morally innocent, and don't deserve the misplaced indignation of the defenders of native wild animals.

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