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Published - Friday, May 16, 2008

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Road-kill: Feral pig draws crowd in Vernon County


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VIROQUA, Wis. — Staring down at the hairy behemoth, Andy Sherry could hardly believe his eyes.

A feral pig sow, weighing between 300 and 500 pounds had been hit by a semi tractor-trailer five miles south of Viroqua on Hwys. 14/61 early this morning. The vehicle that had struck pig had long since gone. The massive animal was drawing a crowd.
Jeremy Turben (from left), Phil Neprud, Ryan Flick and Brian Hooverson examine the carcas of a feral pig sow that appeared to have been struck by semi tractor-trailer on Hwys. 14/61 five miles south of Viroqua, Friday morning. The adult sow appeared to weigh between 300-500 pounds. (Matt Johnson photo)

“I took a look to see if it had any tusks,” Sherry said. “If it did, somebody got to them before I did. It was really a big, big pig.”

Feral pigs in southwestern Wisconsin have become a well-known nuisance. Last year Rep. Lee Nerison, R-Westby, authored state legislation that labeled the pigs as harmful wild animals, making it illegal to posess the animal. The pigs were trapped in Crawford County during the winter of 2008. Large populations of the hard-to-find critters are thought to live in Vernon and Crawford counties.

While a feral pig was shot by a hunter in Genoa two years ago, this is the closest report of a feral pig to Viroqua.

Four employees of C&C Landscaping of Viroqua stopped briefly to look at the pig’s carcass at about 8:20 a.m. Jeremy Turben, Phil Neprud, Ryan Flick and Brian Hooverson were impressed by the animal’s size. The pig appeared to have been dragged from the center of the road, and its main visible infliction was a severe head wound.

“It’s at least 300 pounds,” Hooverson said. “It’s probably bigger. You don’t know how big they are until you’re standing next to one.”

A steady stream of vehicles was pulling along the shoulder of the road with people getting a glimpse of the pig.
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 Comments »

Donatello wrote on May 16, 2008 10:21 PM:

" BTW They will eat people too. "

Donatello wrote on May 16, 2008 10:19 PM:

" For all you city people like the Shiner, below, if you follow this issue you would understand.
This is an important story, these non-native pigs are trashing our ecosystem and the environment that other plants and animals depend on for survival...The dipstick moron that let these go should be neutered...with a rusty knife. "

Broke tax payer wrote on May 16, 2008 8:58 PM:

" After reading the blogs below I'm concerned that most of you kids shouldn't be wastin time on this site but should be studing for finals. If you don't pass , sixth grade is gonna be mighty long the second time around. "

The Shining wrote on May 16, 2008 8:37 PM:

" People need to read stories that have a little importance to them. Having a story of a dead feral pig that was hit by a vehicle is hardly news worthy. And to have your picure taken with a dead pig is really weird. If this is all people in that area have to do then I am glad I don't live there. Is it possible they filmed the movie "Deliverence" there? "

yfinn6 wrote on May 16, 2008 6:44 PM:

" "I don't see that he was asking a question if they were county workers. He was making fun of them for the amount of time they are seen standing around in bunches."

Amount of time they are seen standing around in bunches?

How in the piss can you tell that from a picture?

Remember that these guys don't work for a road crew, county crew, etc. They work for a private company. "

anotherone wrote on May 16, 2008 6:14 PM:

" Just maybe the Tribune had the four guys stand there so that the readers could actually get a sense for how large the animal really is! Would it be too much to ask to give the photographer a little credit?! "

jarob79 wrote on May 16, 2008 5:57 PM:

" Nothing gets by yfinn6!!!!! "

TRALEE wrote on May 16, 2008 4:22 PM:

" To yfinn6: I don't see that he was asking a question if they were county workers. He was making fun of them for the amount of time they are seen standing around in bunches. Good thing you are such a good detective, but pay attention to punctuation. That may help you with your detective work. Classic! "

what_that_too wrote on May 16, 2008 3:33 PM:

" yfinn6 - Wow! somebody here capable of making an intelligent deduction or comment! Praise the er, um, Devil. . . "

yfinn6 wrote on May 16, 2008 2:39 PM:

" Are they county workers?

From the article: "Four employees of C&C Landscaping of Viroqua stopped briefly to look at the pigs carcass at about 8:20 a.m. Jeremy Turben, Phil Neprud, Ryan Flick and Brian Hooverson"

I'm not so sure, but my detective skills tell me that they aren't. "

lets face it wrote on May 16, 2008 2:10 PM:

" These are County road workers. Quick someone get them some shovels so they have something to lean on. "

Nathan wrote on May 16, 2008 1:48 PM:

" Thanks for the laugh logical thinker. That was a good one. "

yfinn6 wrote on May 16, 2008 1:45 PM:

" I love it. The people from the HUGE metropolis that is La Crosse ripping on Viroqua. I think ya'll need to find something better to do with your time.. "

Michael Welch wrote on May 16, 2008 1:25 PM:

" Beers in the truck! THAT's why they all look so grim! Those beers heating up and getting stale while the photog messes about... "

Donatello wrote on May 16, 2008 1:05 PM:

" They look like their salivating over thoughts of flaming yon.
(Yea I know) "

Donatello wrote on May 16, 2008 1:04 PM:

" The trib photog told them to leave their beers in the truck "

The Logical Thinker wrote on May 16, 2008 12:55 PM:

" Is it me, or does anybody else think the four guys in the picture need to have beers in their hands to give it true "King of the Hill" moment? "

Michael Welch wrote on May 16, 2008 12:52 PM:

" Ya shure! If I had been around I'd been out there gawking too but one can't help but see -- it's A Big Day In Vi-roqua you betcha!... "

myopinion wrote on May 16, 2008 12:20 PM:

" To boogadere: they have to insult others, it make them feel good about themselves. Apparently they seem to need a lot of help. "

CJ wrote on May 16, 2008 11:50 AM:

" Wow a big pig............ "

Bumper wrote on May 16, 2008 11:36 AM:

" What, you did not beleive what the DNR has been tellling us for a decade? Well they are here, and they are trouble, real trouble! "

boogadere wrote on May 16, 2008 11:33 AM:

" why is everyone so quick to bash people? You were obviously interested in this article as you took the time to read it and think of a negative response. It's interesting and a little crazy that these animals roam among us, in our backyards!! "

PHIL OSIFER wrote on May 16, 2008 11:14 AM:

" Ah yup Ah yup, dat's write "

WAKEUP wrote on May 16, 2008 11:12 AM:

" Rather than look at it, someone should take it home and butcher it. I imagine there's a lot of meat going to waste there. "

The Shining wrote on May 16, 2008 10:37 AM:

" Looks like people in Vernon County need to find something better to do then to stand and look at a dead pig!!!! Unreal!! "


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