Vermont farmer told to round up his escaped pigs, or else

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ORANGE, Vt. (AP) — Vermont officials have issued an ultimatum to a farmer whose pigs escaped.

State Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts says state officials are sympathetic to the farmer’s plight but that “this has gone on for long enough.”

WCAX-TV reports that the pigs escaped from their pens Aug. 12. Ever since then, boars, sows and piglets have been spotted up and down the road.

Tebbetts said the farmer has until Sept. 10 to complete the roundup. If not, then USDA wildlife trappers will be called in to collect the rest.

The farmer, Walter Jeffries, says someone burglarized his property and sabotaged his fences. Vermont State Police are investigating.