Pigs on the Bourbeuse

By Garry McMichael

I had the opportunity to float and wade fish on most of the upper parts of the Bourbeuse River this past year. One of my favorite places is the Mint Springs MDC Access on Highway EE, a few miles west of Highway 19. But on three different occasions my fishing has been interrupted by the obnoxious odor of dead pigs floating in the river.

The first time was early spring (March 8th) after a hard rain earlier in the week. I came across a pig of about sixty pounds, terribly bloated, and creating an awful smell. It was caught in downed tree limbs just above where Mint Springs enters the Bourbeuse. I thought there was also a second pig there, but I had no desire to investigate.

Later in the summer (July 19) I came across another dead pig floating free against the bank just a few yards up river from the spring sighting. This one was smaller, maybe thirty pounds. I began to wonder if a pig farmer upstream was throwing dead pigs into the river.

This fall (October 4th) I made another visit to the Mint Springs access. This time I found what appeared to be two, day-old piglets in a plastic Wal-Mart shopping bag grounded on the gravel bar just downstream from the boat ramp. If I had any doubts about someone dumping pigs, they were dispelled after this sighting.

These are not the only dead pigs I’ve seen on the Bourbeuse River. In April I came across a pig on a gravel bar below Wankel Ford. On July 5th, I came across another dead pig while floating from Peter’s Ford to Devil’s Back Campground.

Has anyone else seen dead pigs on the Bourbeuse River? If you have, can you recall when and where? I have been in contact with Conrad Mallady, agent with the Missouri Department of Conservation out of the Sullivan, Missouri office. He tells me there is a law against the dumping of dead animal carcasses and the MDC would like to be informed of dead livestock found in Missouri Rivers. Conrad suggested, "Anytime you come across dead livestock report it to the MDC or the county sheriff’s office. If you come across someone actually dumping dead animals get as much information as you can safely obtain without a confrontation. Get a description of the individuals, their automobile, and if possible, get their license plate number. But don’t make contact with them, or do anything to put yourself in harm’s way."

Conrad went on to explain that the way the MDC stops fishing and hunting violations is mostly through the public. He stressed, "We are there eyes, and the best cases made are from public contact."

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