Best Practice Feral Pig (Sus scrofa) Management

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IntroductionThis module is part of a series of modules in the Pests Cost Us All project.

The project aims to improve and up date landholder knowledge in pest animal management and weed management across South Australia.

This will be achieved through provision of training and awareness sessions and demonstration sites.

The Pests Cost Us All project is part of the Australian Government’s Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, the government’s plan for stronger farmers and a stronger economy.

Learning outcomes from this module

• Understand what is a feral pig and how to manage them• Understand potential impacts of feral pigs• Understand the importance of working as part of a group for

successful feral pig management• Develop objectives and a plan for feral pig management • Understand legal requirements for feral pig management• Select appropriate management techniques, with regard to

animal welfare and property objectives• Employ correct timing of feral pig management techniques• Assess the effectiveness of feral pig management activities

What other issues would you like to address in relation to feral pig management?

We will record these and refer to this list throughout the session.

Before we start – your issues

1. Define the problem2. Determine objectives3. Develop plan4. Implement plan5. Monitor, evaluate and revise plan

Best practice feral pig management -key steps

Background• Introduction into Australia• Distribution• Description• Biology, ecology and behavior• Impact

Defining the current situation / problem• Signs of presence• Know your property and situation• Baseline monitoring

Step 1. Define the problem

Domestic pigs - in Australia since European settlement - 1788.

Feral pigs:• Escaped and purposely released

domestic pigs• Cover nearly 45% of Australia, within

all States and Territories. • Between 3.5 and 23.5 million feral

pigs across Australia.

(Step 1). Distribution

(Step 1). IdentificationLook more like the Eurasian wild boar. All Sus scrofa.

Eurasian Wild Boar Domestic Pig

Australian Feral Pig

• Pigs have a good sense of smell, taste and hearing, but poor eyesight.

• Pigs in Australia video

(Step 1). Biology and Behaviour

(Step 1). Biology and Behaviour• Omnivorous, opportunistic feeders• Green vegetation, animal matter, fruits and grains• High energy requirement

(Step 1). Biology and Behaviour• Habitat generalists• But require regular food, water supply and shelter• Heat intolerant – need access to water and shade• Prefer dense cover• Most active from late afternoon to early morning

(Step 1). Biology and Behaviour• Highly social and intelligent• Group (mob) size varies with age, gender and water availability

• Related sows• Bachelor groups• Older males operate alone or in pairs• Usually < 12 individuals but can be up to 100 or more

(Step 1). Biology and Behaviour• Defined home range• Size determined by gender, resources and season

• Males generally have larger home ranges than females• Food and water availability and quality

• Creatures of habit

(Step 1). Biology and Behaviour• Sows can breed once they weigh about 25-30kg• In good conditions:

• Breeding can occur all year round• Two litters per year• Litter size as high as 10

• Average litter size ranges from 4.9 to 6.3 piglets.

AgriculturalOver $100 million per year (2004)

• Prey on newborn lambs• Eat and damage crops• Damage fences and water sources• Consume or damage pasture• Carriers of parasites and diseases (e.g.

Foot and Mouth = $9 billion loss)

(Step 1). Feral Pig Impacts

Environmental• Compete with wildlife for resources• Damage habitat by trampling, ground

rooting and wallowing• Foul water sources• Consume native vegetation• Consume native animals

(Step 1). Feral Pig Impacts

SocialPositive• Food and/or recreational resource for

hunters and Aboriginal communities

Negative• Damage culturally significant Aboriginal

sites and animals• Damage property and landscape• Carriers of parasites and diseases

(Step 1). Feral Pig Impacts

Step 1. Define the Problem• Identify areas that may be hotspots for activity (e.g. near water)• Assess habitat conditions and food abundance (are they

suitable?)• Identify signs of feral pig presence and damage• Map the information gathered

(Step 1). Identify presence of feral pigs

(Step 1). Identify presence of feral pigs

Rooting and Wallowing

(Step 1). Identify presence of feral pigs

Agricultural Impact

Tree Rub

Dung

Travel pad

Holes in fences

Agricultural Impact

Decision tree for determining cause of

lamb deaths

(Step 1). Feral pig impacts

(Step 1). Property Mapping

Identify potential activity sites and

assetsWater source

High value assets –crops and native vegetation

(Step 1). Property MappingKnow your property – map your problem

= signs of pig damage

= signs of pig movement

= pig sighting

What do you plan to achieve and what should your objectives be?

• Measurable Objectives• How much effort should you put in?• Focus on reducing damage from feral

pigs, not just numbers

Step 2. Determine Objectives

• Are you trying to protect your livestock, native fauna, water sources or other infrastructure?

• Are you planning to undertake broad scale control for population reduction?

• Are you planning to conduct proactive control to maintain and limit impacts in the future?

Step 2. Determine Objectives

Step 3. Develop a feral pig management plan• Scale and approach of the control program

• Identify and understand relevant: Legislation, Work, health and safety considerations and animal welfare requirements

• Identify and evaluate suitable control options

• Plan – what will be done and when

Step 3. Develop a feral pig management plan• Determine management levels – property, local, regional• Integrated plan/co-ordinated approach - long term• Choose your strategy – feasibility/cost effectiveness, current

distribution and persistence

Step 3. Develop a feral pig management planInclude:• Where you will do the control• What tools you will use• When will you do the control• How you will monitor for success• Record keeping

• Co-ordinated control • Useful contacts (regional programs and

officers)• Any other benefits?• Local plans/projects – what is happening

in the region?

(Step 3). Benefits of working together

(Step 3). Legal considerations• Natural Resources Management Act 2004 (SA)• Pastoral Land Management and Conservation Act 1989 (SA) • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

(commonwealth)• Animal Welfare Act 1985• Other Acts

(Step 3). Work Health and Safety• Work Health and Safety Act 2012• You have a duty of care to employees and people working on your

property• YOUR welfare is also important• Risks of working with machinery, chemicals • COPs and SOPs

• Baiting

• Trapping

• Shooting (ground and aerial)

• Other methods

(Step 3). Management Options

• Economic and effective on broad scale• Used in early stages of a control program• Aerial baiting less effective than ground

baiting• Ground-based baiting – more target

specific, but needs accessible areas

Baiting

• 1080 – Sodium Fluoroacetate• Affects central nervous system• Environmentally sensitive and target

specific• In development (HOG-GONE®): sodium

nitrate• Hog Gone Video

Baiting

• NO antidote for 1080• Native species, domestic cats and dogs

and livestock can be exposed• Dogs are highly susceptible• Toxic to humans

Baiting

Baiting• Grain (wheat, oats, barley, sorghum, soybeans and lupins)

• Fruit (e.g. bananas)

• Fresh meat

• Manufactured Baits (PIGOUT®)

• Restrictions Exist

Baiting- Pigout• Video link on baiting and using PIGOUT• Pig Out video• 1080 – Sodium Fluoroacetate

Baiting- Hog HopperHogHopper video

• Feral pig specific bait hopper • Reduces risk of non-target uptake• Only needs to be checked every 2-4days• Also a monitoring tool

Baiting• Bait selection• Timing• Site selection• Free feeding• Toxic baiting• Follow-up• Pack-up• Site selection video intro• Site selection video summary

• The only way to know working dogs are safe is to keep them muzzled in the baited area.

Baiting – Working Dog Safety

• Accessing, making and using 1080 baits• Placement and timing rules:

• Restrictions on distances from water, dwellings, roads etc.

• Neighbour notification • Signage

Baiting – Rules and Regulations

Trapping• Useful:• Where there are low pig numbers• On smaller properties (<5000 ha)• Where baiting or shooting is not feasible, such as near towns. • As a secondary control method to mop up survivors from baiting

programs

TrappingTrap type video

Panel, silo and box

• Timing• Site selection• Bait material• Free feeding• Setting traps• Checking traps and killing trapped pigs• Minimal disturbance

Trapping

• See SOP for equipment & procedure requirements

• Farmer assist website to connect with Sporting Shooters Association

• Don’t use prior to or during other control programs - intrusive

Shooting

• Useful:• When pigs exist in reasonable numbers

and are observable from the air• To rapidly reduce pig numbers during

• exotic disease emergencies. • in large, remote/inaccessible areas

(e.g. swamps)

Shooting -aerial

• Where pigs show avoidance behavior to baits/traps/vehicles etc.

Useful:• for controlling small, isolated

populations• where other techniques cannot be used• as a secondary control method

Shooting - ground

• Not suitable for population-scale management across large areas, particularly when the pig density is low.

Other methods of controlFencing and Judas Pigs

• Conduct control efforts at times when maximum effectiveness is likely.

• Timing linked to;• Lifecycles of the pig• Availability of resources • Protection of assets • Animal welfare concerns

(Step 3.) Timing of control

Step 4. Implement Plan• Use your plan and implement

actions

• Communicate with neighboursand work together

Step 5. Monitor, Evaluate and revise planMeasure outcomes:• Assess feral pig damage• Determine feral pig abundance/ activity• Costs of plan implementation

Evaluate your plan:• Is it working?• Do I need to do more/ something different?• How do I stop future impacts?• Discuss with neighbours

Regularly review the plan

(and mapping) and update when

needed

(Step 5). Monitoring methods

• Aerial surveys• Cost effective across large spatial areas• Helicopters generally preferred• Transects

• During control programs• Number of pigs removed per unit effort• Bait uptake

(Step 5). Monitoring methods• Other

• Spotlight counts• Thermal infrared imaging • Detection by remote motion

cameras in the landscape

• Sign counts (frequency of occurrence)• rooting, wallows, dung, tracks, travel

pads, plant damage, tree rubbings• Simple scoring and presence /

absence• Crop damage• Other

(Step 5). Monitoring methods

(Step 5). Feral PigScan

Further InformationPestSmarthttp://www.pestsmart.org.au/pest-animal-species/feral-pig/PestSmart You Tube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_t45UjNqVMbSFalpZ8XicABiosecurity SA Feral Pigshttp://pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/weeds_and_pest_animals/animal_pests_in_south_australia/established_pest_animals/feral_pigs

Feral pig control adviceNatural Resources (Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources)Web: www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au

• Understand the problem-biology, ecology, impacts

• Work with others• Set objectives and develop plan• Know your legal responsibilities• Select appropriate techniques• Monitor, evaluate and adapt

Review- key messages

Are there any issues that were recorded earlier that were not addressed?

What ideas and plans do you have for managing feral pigs in your area?

Any other questions?

Review

FEEDBACK AND EVALUATIONPlease take some time to give us your feedback so we can improve this module for future delivery.

Thank you for your participation