RANCHING Wildlife E
Feral Hogs — More Than a Nuisance
ARLY WINTER IS A GREAT TIME TO ADDRESS FERAL HOG IS- sues. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Exten-
sion, these animals, also known as wild pigs, can be incredibly destructive to range and croplands and have even encroached into urban green spaces such as lawns, parks and athletic fi elds. They can dam- age wetland areas in their search for food, and alter native vegetation and seedlings with their rooting. A conservative estimate for their damage is as high as $1.5 billion annually, based on an estimated U.S. population of 6 million animals, although there are many variables for specifi c areas. Wild pigs also have an impact on white-tailed deer.
Deer hunting is an annual $2.2 billion industry in Texas alone, making wild pigs an economic consid- eration far beyond the land and crop damage. They compete with deer for native foods such as acorns; supplemental foods such as forages and corn left as hunting bait; and even for habitat, as deer will usu- ally vacate an area where pigs show up. Another problem with the growing feral hog popu- lation is the potential for disease transmission to both
tscra.org February 2016 The Cattleman 59
livestock and humans, although in general, the risk to humans is not considered signifi cant. Feral hogs can also contaminate drinking water. There are a number of ways to control feral hogs
including box traps, corral traps, drop nets, shooting and trained dogs. Newer technology includes some of these in combination, utilizing a phone app to trigger a capturing device when hogs are detected in an area. The options are often dependent on the landowner’s goals, knowledge and fi nances.
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