Controlling feral animal populations and pests is challenging at the best of times. The current drought conditions are providing the optimal time to act to control vertebrate pests competing with stock for water and feed.
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While understanding that for most landholders, their primary focus is currently on water and feed, Biosecurity Officer Max Newsome, from Northern Tablelands Local Land Services, is keen for land managers to take advantage of the dry conditions to target pests, particularly feral pigs.
There are a number of strategies that can be used to effectively control pig populations and the Northern Tablelands Local Land Services biosecurity team is keen to work in conjunction with landholders to facilitate the process.
“With farm resources stretched, feral pigs are more concentrated around water and food sources, providing a greater chance of being able to target a higher percentage of the population which will have a greater impact in the long-term”, Mr Newsome said.
He advises poison baiting as an economical and effective control.
“Free-feeding prior to baiting is crucial to having the greatest impact. Follow up efforts can include trapping, ground and aerial shooting.”
While camera technology can be expensive, Mr Newsome believes being able to monitor pig numbers before introducing baits is highly efficient. There is great value in being able to physically see exact numbers as well as feeding and watering times in order to make informed decisions.
Feral pig expert Darren Marshall works in Biodiversity and Pest Management with the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee.
“The key message is that, unless 70 per cent of the population can be eradicated in a relatively short time, we won’t have an impact. Feral pigs breed second to rabbits, are large, mobile and can quickly reinfest,” Mr Marshall said.
While baiting, trapping and aerial shooting are effective, Mr Marshall believes that the greatest challenge in controlling pig populations is bringing communities together.
“Mobilising landholders and communities to work together is vital in ensuring effective control techniques are undertaken to reduce the population by 70 per cent.
“This is why the collective control programs coordinated by Local Land Services are so critical. By coordinating landholders to bait, trap or aerial shoot at the same time, Local Land Services are ensuring the key to success. Landholders stand to benefit in ways that would otherwise not be possible when they are working individually.”
READ MORE: The sheep that think they’re kangaroos
For more information about controlling feral pigs on your farm, contact Max Newsome on 0427 007 190.
