Home / Environment / Volunteers Hunt Invasive Species in Coastal Parks
Volunteers Hunt Invasive Species in Coastal Parks
22 Mar
Summary
- Qualified volunteers will manage invasive nutria and hogs.
- Program aims to protect ecosystems and native species.
- Hunters must pass checks and follow strict property rules.
The National Park Service (NPS) has announced new opportunities for qualified volunteer hunters to assist in managing invasive nutria and feral hogs on its properties in coastal Georgia and Louisiana. These efforts are part of a broader initiative conforming to Secretarial Order 3447, which directed Interior Department managers to identify lands for expanded hunting and fishing opportunities.
At Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Louisiana and Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia, volunteer hunters may be activated for controlled removal of these invasive species. These animals have significantly degraded ecosystems, accelerated erosion, and reduced biodiversity. The program emphasizes that these are managed removal actions, not traditional hunting, requiring volunteers to pass proficiency exams and background checks.
Volunteers must adhere to property-specific restrictions, potentially including not possessing the removed animals, a measure precedent in past NPS invasive species management. This approach shifts from using costly commercial sharpshooters to leveraging skilled volunteers for wildlife management, offering a potential model for public land resource management.
