Seeing is believing: land flourishes with feral pig control

Introduction

Farmers near Yetman in the NSW Northern Tablelands were struggling with high numbers of feral pigs. These pests were destroying fencing, crops, stored grain, pasture and other vegetation growth.  

Challenge

The area is diverse, from steep gorges to open cropping country, and has seen an increase in feral pig activity in recent years due to favourable breeding conditions.

Despite this group of landholders funding their own aerial control programs, feral pig damage has continued to be a problem.

“We never would have guessed that we had as many feral pigs on our property until we consistently kept trapping every day and kept getting pigs.” 

- Jack Pearlman 

Landholders had reported the destruction caused by feral pigs on their properties including:

• diggings, tracks and pads in paddocks
• crop and soil damage, reducing potential yields
• wallows and damage to livestock watering points
• fence and infrastructure damage
• losses of fodder and stored grain
• the risk of disease transmitting to livestock.

“The damage they can do to your crops is massive...they can do it in a week.” 

- Rowan Wood

Solution

Jack Pearlman and Rowan Wood joined forces with Local Land Services to undertake a coordinated control program targeting feral pigs on their properties. A combination of control methods were used over 12 months involving:

• aerial shooting
• baiting and trapping, with a sustained campaign from February to September 2024 including 98 trapping days.

Local Land Services also focused efforts on providing the landholders:

• coordination of the above control programs
• new skills and knowledge in control techniques
• trapping and monitoring equipment
• free grain and bait through the Feral Fighters program
• one-on-one support and advice through local biosecurity officers
• support to monitor and report control through the free FeralScan app.

Disease surveillance testing was also carried out, monitoring for the presence of transmissible diseases in feral pigs controlled during the program i.e. leptospirosis, brucellosis, Q fever and Japanese encephalitis. Testing was conducted as part of the NSW DPIRD’s Wildlife Disease Surveillance Project. 

“It’s labour-intensive work but to learn different control methods and tools from LLS and having their support to continually get on top of pig numbers over a longer period, showed me the impact you can achieve through longer control programs.” 

- Jack Pearlman.  

Outcomes

Landholders and Local Land Services worked together to reduce the number of feral pigs in the Yetman area and limit their impacts. 

Over 12 months, 1,243 feral pigs were controlled across the two properties, occupying 1,900 ha, through aerial shooting, trapping and baiting programs.

A further 2,431 pigs were culled during a large-scale aerial program in March, which targeted 78,711 ha in the wider Yetman and Wallangra areas, across 41 private properties.

Landholders and the environment are now benefiting from: 

• reduced feral pig populations
• less damage to crops, dams, pasture and infrastructure
• protection of stored grain and fodder
• improved vegetation growth
• more productive crop yields
• reduced risk of disease spreading to livestock
• improved knowledge and skills in feral pig control for more effective, long-term management.

“I’ve noticed fewer pigs and less signs of damage this harvest than you’d typically see...Coordinated control programs like these are the only way to take them out effectively.” 

- Rowan Wood 

Ongoing work

Both landholders are now looking at finalising exclusion fencing around their properties to further control pest animals and limit their damaging impact. The landholder group will continue to privately fund aerial control programs on their property and have seen the benefits of ongoing ground-based control programs. 

There is always more work to be done, and Local Land Services will work with landholders to reduce the impacts of feral pigs on agriculture and the natural environment. Pest animal control is not a once off and this success story demonstrates the benefits of neighbours continuing to work together in the longer term.

“Turn your back on them for six months and that’s all it takes for the numbers to get out of control.” 

- Rowan Wood

How to get involved

To learn more about how LLS can help you with your pest animal management, call 1300 795 299 and ask to speak with your local biosecurity officer.