Feral pigs are a growing concern for the Shire of Toodyay in Western Australia. These invasive animals, initially introduced to the country by European settlers in 1788, have established themselves in various regions and inhabit approximately 40% of Australia.
Feral Pig Impacts
Agricultural Damage:
Feral pigs are known to cause extensive damage to crops, resulting in financial losses for farmers. They also may prey on livestock, particularly lambs and young calves, and can spread diseases to domestic pigs and other animals. It is also possible for them to spread diseases and parasites to livestock.
Environmental Damage:
Feral pigs can disturb and degrade native habitats through their rooting and wallowing activities. These actions can cause soil erosion, reduce water quality, and damage vegetation. Additionally, feral pigs can prey on native fauna, including reptiles, amphibians, and ground-nesting birds, further contributing to the decline of these species. They may also spread invasive plants.
Disease Transmission:
Feral pigs can carry and spread various diseases, such as leptospirosis, Q fever, brucellosis, and tuberculosis, which can be transmitted to humans, livestock, and native animals. They can also transmit Salmonellosis, Trichinellosis roundworm, and Campylobacteriosis through contaminated meat.
Cultural Heritage and Recreational Sites:
Feral pigs can also cause irreparable damage to cultural heritage sites, such as scarred trees, stone arrangements, and burial grounds, by disturbing and destroying these areas. They can do the same to rest stops, nature-based parks and camp areas.
Addressing the Problem
Monitoring and Surveillance:
Regular monitoring of feral pig populations and their impact on the environment and agriculture is crucial to inform decisions. This is being done by the Shire Rangers through ground-based surveys, tracking, as well as community reporting of sightings and damage.
Collaboration and Partnerships:
The Shire of Toodyay is working closely with regional bodies, and state agencies to share resources and expertise in managing feral pigs. This collaborative approach ensures a coordinated and effective response to the feral pig problem.
Trapping:
Trapping is a very effective method for controlling feral pig numbers. It can help to scope the problem and can eliminate breeding pigs and whole mobs at a time. It also prevents injured pigs causing flow on issues to properties and watercourses. The Shire of Toodyay Rangers and Environmental Health Officer are working closely with landholders, vets, DPIRD, to implement targeted trapping programs.
Fencing and Exclusion:
Installing exclusion fences around sensitive areas, such as crop fields and native habitats, can help protect these areas from feral pig damage. Landholders are encouraged to explore options for fencing to keep feral pigs out of their properties and prevent them moving through their properties.
Shooting
Shooting is a common and cheap method that is employed by farmers against feral pigs, but this can have negative impacts on their overall management.
Shooting at a mob of feral pigs may scare them from traps, make them less predictable and more often or not, if you shoot one, the remainder of the mob will escape. They may not leave the area, but they are going to change their habits, and that will make it harder to control them in the future.