Latest news with #feralpigs
ABC News
6 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Feral pig cull reduces pest numbers in WA's Northern Agricultural Region
A six-month cull has removed a "surprisingly large" number of feral pigs from Western Australia's Midwest landscape. WARNING: This article contains an image some readers might find distressing. Experts say the record results demonstrate how quickly the declared pests can spread. Feral pigs are estimated to cause $156 million of damage to Australian agricultural production each year, and can carry diseases and damage the environment. On-ground shooters and aerial pest controllers working from helicopters trapped, baited or shot 11,800 pigs across a 550,000-hectare land area near Geraldton, known as the Northern Agricultural Region (NAR), as part of the cull. The region is a known hotspot for the pest, but the number of pigs removed has shocked organisers and farmers. National feral pig management coordinator Heather Channon said a series of favourable seasons had allowed pigs to breed in large numbers in some parts of Australia, such as the NAR, and it was difficult to estimate their population or geographical spread. "It's a tremendous amount of pigs that have come out, one of the bigger numbers that I've seen in that region, but it doesn't mean that we've got them all," she said. "That's where we have to be really careful. While we've got a big number, we don't know what the starting number was." Pigs can have at least two litters every 12 months, and litters can range between four and 12 piglets, a breeding efficiency Dr Channon said "allows the problem to quickly exacerbate". She said that with feral pig populations expanding across Australia, landowners often did not know if pigs were present. "It's been estimated that around 45 per cent of Australia's land mass is affected by feral pigs. They're resilient and adaptive animals able to live in dry conditions and in mountains." Dr Channon said pigs were "clever" adversaries as they quickly learnt how to avoid control attempts. Managing feral pigs has been an ongoing and costly battle for grain and livestock farmer Scott Bridgeman, who farms near Northampton, 50 kilometres north of Geraldton. He said pigs reduced crop yields, either by running their nose along furrows to eat seeds after they had been sown, or by eating mature grain crops before harvest. "It's quite distressing when you come back there and there's no plants, then the country blows away," he said. "They're a real pest." Mr Bridgeman said the pigs nested in flowering canola, flattening the plants and eating canola flowers before moving on to eat wheat when it was ripe. He said some farmers had begun building exclusion fences to keep out the large numbers of kangaroos and pigs moving from bushland into crops. "You're probably looking at $6,000 to $8,000 a kilometre [to build fencing] ... but when you have a high pest burden, it's definitely worth it," he said. Mr Bridgeman said pigs were shot on his property this year, but they were an ongoing challenge. Clare Engelke, who coordinates the biosecurity group responsible for feral pig control in the NAR, said most pigs were removed by aerial shooters. She said it was the most effective way to humanely remove large numbers, but continuous on-ground control by landholders was essential to prevent the population exploding again. "We knew there were lots of pigs, but the number surprised us, and they were in areas we didn't expect them at all," she said. "It's not just about protecting livelihoods and crop production, it's about the environment in terms of water quality and protecting remnant vegetation. "They impact native species and biodiversity ... it's a bigger problem than crop protection." Dr Engelke said the Northern Biosecurity Group could help landowners with feral pig control, and she encouraged people to join the free service.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Frustrated landowner discovers alarming cause behind devastating property damage: 'It's heartbreaking to see'
A frustrated property owner has highlighted the damaging behavior of feral pigs in Australia. Posting on Reddit, the property owner wrote, "We own a small bush block that we have been trying to restore as a natural forest for native wildlife," before explaining that it is dug up by feral pigs every night, hunting for roots and worms. The property owner went on to explain that the pig's behavior kills native grasses and causes the topsoil to be washed away with the rain. What's more, the pigs are difficult to get rid of as they are great at evading traps. "I realise that feral animals are reproducing in the wild, but I also know that some people release animals into the wild for hunting. If you are one of those, you are doing your country a disservice," the property owner wrote. Feral pigs cause problems in countries all over the world and are one of the most invasive species globally. Native to parts of Europe, these pigs, also known as wild boar, swine, and hogs, are found on every continent except Antarctica. The pigs have been spread by humans, with some escaping into the wild where they breed fast. According to the Conversation, in North America, they cause billions of dollars of damage every year and carry pests and diseases that threaten people and pets. There are lots of programs to help eradicate these pests to protect the native plants and animals they destroy. For example, in Lee County, Texas, the government offers rewards for every set of feral hogs' ears that are submitted. However, getting rid of them entirely is often difficult because they are extremely adaptable and reproduce quickly. Eradicating them is important for protecting native ecosystems that provide a lot of the services we depend on. It also helps protect crops and prevent damage to infrastructure. Several commenters sympathized with the property owner. "It's heartbreaking to see what's happening to your land," one person wrote. Another added, "I am sorry you're going through this." Do you think fracking should be illegal in America? Yes — everywhere Yes — in most areas In some areas No Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
CBC
26-06-2025
- General
- CBC
New campaign encourages B.C. to 'squeal' on invasive pigs
Escaped domestic pigs are no joke. That's the message behind a new awareness campaign from the Invasive Species Council of B.C. aimed at preventing feral pig populations from growing and thriving in British Columbia, as they have elsewhere in North America. The campaign encourages British Columbians to "squeal on pigs" they believe have escaped into the wild, and offers farmers tips on how to prevent their animals from getting loose. "It's one of the species that we want to be very, very careful with," said Stanley Troyer, who grew up on a ranch and now owns a custom meat-cutting shop in Fort St. John in northeast B.C., one of the regions of the province where feral pigs are most likely to thrive. He said he once helped a friend track down a loose hog that travelled more than 50 kilometres in the middle of winter — a reminder of the animal's ability to survive in northern climates. "It's important that we don't underestimate the ability of hogs," he said. Gail Wallin, executive director of the Invasive Species Council of B.C., said escaped domesticated pigs can cause environmental damage and spread disease. "They're rooters. They'll destroy your crops or your wetlands or whatever lands are really important for other native species," she said. The campaign features pigs in places they shouldn't be — grocery stores, tractors, and kitchen cupboards — and asks people to act if they see any in real life. Wallin said the council has spent the last year working on resources for local governments and pork producers, as well as things like kids' activity books, to support the campaign. She said anyone who spots a pig can report it online through the council's website, by using an invasive species app or by calling in with information. She said having a photo of the animal is particularly important. "If it's a pig outside a fence, it's illegal in British Columbia. So, that goes to the province, and the province works out a response," she said. An alert posted by the provincial government said feral pigs have been reported in low numbers in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Thompson-Okanagan, Peace, Chilcotin and Kootenay regions. It said many were released or escaped from farms but they "have not yet established large populations in the province." Wallin said her organization has seen the damage invasive pigs can cause in other provinces, as well as in the United States, and it's a growing concern. "We don't want that here in British Columbia," she said. "We want to catch them when they're still in their early stages, and prevent new ones from coming in." Wild boars that aren't being raised as livestock are considered an invasive species in Alberta and are a provincially regulated "agricultural pest." The government of Alberta has said the pigs can compete with wildlife and destroy other sensitive natural habitats. The Alberta Invasive Species Council said that while there are no Canadian estimates, agricultural damage in the U.S. caused by wild boar at large is estimated to be $1.5 billion each year.
ABC News
17-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Funding boost sees NSW biosecurity budget swell to more than $1b
For cattle breeder Tim Vincent the news of more than $140 million in new funding for biosecurity across New South Wales could not have come at a better time. WARNING: Readers are advised this article includes an image some may find distressing. The owner of four properties, including an Angus stud near Tamworth, said the feral pig population in the area was as bad as he had seen. "They are in areas we have never seen them before," Mr Vincent said. "You can hear them of a night-time near the house, arguing and fighting. Feral pigs cause damage to crops, pastures and waterways and have be known to kill livestock and charge humans. An extra $141.2m was announced last week ahead of next week's budget, bringing total biosecurity funding to a record $1.05 billion. The NSW government has allocated $100m of the new money to improving biosecurity, with $42.1 million to be spent on modernising research and development infrastructure. The Invasive Species Council said the additional funding was welcome, but CEO Jack Gough said spending must be strategic. "I'm hopeful we're not … getting silly press releases of 100,000 animals killed," he said. Mr Gough said hunting was still used for managing some invasive species but the bounties under consideration would make no difference over an extended period. "They don't increase the level of feral animal management and they tend to lead to fraud," he said. "[We should be] empowering our departments to focus on areas of strategic need where we can get some really important wins to stop those pigs or deer from spreading into new areas." The NSW Farmers Association president Xavier Martin said farmers needed all the support they could get to deal with weeds, diseases, and invasive species. "If fire ants are allowed to spread … they'll change our way of life, change our landscape, our flora and fauna," he said. "These are all unmanageable risks for the individual farmer. "But as a nation and certainly as a state … we can deal with these and prevention is far better than a cure." Premier Chris Minns said the extra funding was "absolutely crucial if we want to keep our agriculture sector healthy". "We want to see it grow, expand into new markets — but first things first, that is, protecting agriculture right here in NSW," he said. Minister Tara Moriarty said she hoped updating facilities would also attract more young people to the industry. "Some of the workforce is getting towards the end of their working lives and they want to pass on their knowledge," she said.
