Governor Signs Bill to Regulate Captive Swine for Hunting

On June 24, 2013, Governor Tom Corbett signed SB 644 into law as Act No. 25. This Act amends the definition of “wild animal” in Title 34 of the PA Consolidated Statutes to exclude any “species or variation of swine, pig or boar” that is kept in captivity. Act 25 also adds a subchapter, entitled Swine Hunting Preserves, to Title 3 of the PA Consolidated Statutes. The subchapter requires all male swine kept for hunting be neutered. In addition, the subchapter gives the authority to regulate captive swine kept for hunting, previously belonging to the Game Commission, to the Department of Agriculture.

For more information on Act 25, please see Pennsylvania’s General Assembly’s website.

Written By Clara E. Conklin – Research Assistant
The Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center
June 25, 2013

Pennsylvania Game Commission Removes Protection on Feral Swine

Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director, Carl Roe, issued an Executive Order (“Order”) for the removal of protection on feral swine.  Except in counties designated as containing official eradication trapping operations, the repeal of protection applies statewide.  The Commission determined that to protect humans and resources it is necessary to eradicate feral swine from the wild.  Additionally, the Order establishes the terms and procedures for the proper taking (killing) of feral swine.  For more on the Commission’s Order please visit The Pennsylvania Bulletin.  

Written by Jay Angle, Research Assistant