NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

MATT J. WHITWORTH

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

MARCH 4, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LICKING MAN CHARGED WITH GUIDING ILLEGAL HUNTS

IN MARK TWAIN NATIONAL FOREST

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Licking, Mo., man appeared in federal court this morning on the charge that he illegally guided hunts in the Mark Twain National Forest.

Charles Richard Wade, 66, of Licking, was charged with conducting a guided hunt for feral hogs in the Mark Twain National Forest in Texas County, Mo., on April 17, 2008, in violation of federal law and U.S. Forest Service regulations. Wade operates Rich’s Guide Service, which advertises guided hunts for feral hogs and other animals. Wade’s initial appearance on a federal information that was filed against him on Feb. 19, 2009, was held this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge James C. England.

Whitworth cautioned that this charge is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Mohlhenrich. It was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service.

Feral Hogs

Feral hogs, also known as “wild hogs,” degrade wildlife habitat and private property, and can pose a threat to humans, pets and domestic livestock through the spread of disease. They forage heavily on acorns, competing with native species such as deer and turkeys for this important fall food. They commonly eat the eggs of ground nesting-birds and have been reported to kill and eat fawns.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, feral hogs started to become a serious problem for the state in the 1990s, when hog hunting for recreation gained popularity. Groups started raising and promoting European wild boar as a form of alternative agriculture and for hunting on licensed shooting areas. Soon, many of those hogs escaped or were intentionally released on public land. Because feral hogs are highly adaptable and prolific breeders, their numbers started growing at an alarming rate. Today feral hog populations are established in over 20 south Missouri counties, and sightings of feral hogs occur across the state.

****************

This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at