Disturbing: Michigan Pig Farm Raids

[Alex.B]

land of the free indeed.

[alkibp]

Pigs, snakes, dogs, cats...

I can think of yet another invasive species in North America..... us.

[4Ballz]

Not to put too fine a point on it, but the only reason you can drink raw milk at all is because of a government program to test and kill all cattle in the US with Brucellosis. The Government has been killing infected cattle with brucellosis for nearly 100 years. The Government killing farm animals is really nothing new but I haven't heard of it being done before for reasons other then eradicating diseases.

I'm not in the US though. I understand diseased animals and such, but it's getting out of hand lately.

[MarkS]

I think Canada used to have a similar process but they successfully eradicated the disease from their herds decades ago and don't even require yearly testing any more. The US hasn't been able to do that because wild elk herds out west are still a vector for the disease and they have infected cattle in the past.

It is getting out of hand though when they destroy herds of pigs just because they 'might' turn feral 'if' they escape.

[wolfy-hound]

Exactly! Destroying infected animals has never been an issue to any rancher/farmer. They don't want infected animals any more than the government does! But to destroy animals because they "might" escape? They may as well start eradicating all animals including dogs and cats.

Imagine if they started forcing people to kill all their dogs because they "might" bite people... oh wait... breed legislation is step 1 of that plan.

[paperaith]

I'd also like to point out that all horses in the Americas are invasive. In fact, there are no "wild" horses in America, only feral horses. Yet everyone is clamoring to protect THEM...

[Dragoon]

I'm not in the US though. I understand diseased animals and such, but it's getting out of hand lately.

Next 4 years will probably determine if I want join you in canada.

[WingedWolfPsion]

I can think of yet another invasive species in North America..... us.

Actually, no. We are here legitimately, through natural range expansion. Just like the armadillos that crossed the Mississippi.