Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute Wild Pig Outreach Program
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Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute Wild Pig Outreach Program—FAQ Why do we have so many wild pigs now? Wild pigs were first introduced into Texas by the explorer Hernando de Soto in the mid-1500’s. However, it was not until the 1980’s that populations of feral swine lit- erally exploded across the state. The huge increase occurred as result of a “perfect storm”: Many pigs were moved and re-released during this time to provide a supple- mental species for hunting as their popularity increased as a game animal. Also, in Texas it is legal to supplementally feed wildlife and to that end, Texans feed approxi- mately 300 million pounds of corn alone to wildlife annually. Non-target species such as wild pigs and raccoons benefit greatly from the increase in nutrition this sup- plement provides and respond by producing more young with higher survival rates. Wild pigs are also smart-inefficient attempts to control their numbers make them wary and less susceptible to control measures and often result in the pigs becoming nocturnal. Lastly, wild pigs have a tremendous intrinsic rate of increase. Mature sows can have two litters per year and their female offspring can become sexually mature at 6 to 8 months of age and therefore are capable of producing a litter of their own before their first birthday! What is the best method to control wild pigs? With current technology, we cannot hope to eradicate wild pigs. However, applied research projects have shown that we can effectively reduce the damage that wild pigs cause. For most landowners, trapping using large traps, pre-baiting and varying baits among traps that appeal to the wild pigs’ keen sense of smell increase the odds of trapping success. What are the legal methods for controlling wild pigs? Legal control methods include shooting, snaring, trapping and capture via the use of dogs that are specially trained for that purpose. These methods have shown to be useful in significantly reducing the damage wild pigs can cause. However, none of these techniques will guarantee total/permanent eradication of a pig population. If impaled by a wild pig’s tusk, what disease could you get from one? Most likely, a human would be subject to an infection just as you would from suffer- ing any deep cut or abrasion from any unclean surface. 1 How do I contact landowners to hunt on lands being damaged by wild pigs? Although the Texas AgriLife Extension Service does not maintain lists of landowners offering pig hunting opportunities, Internet searches can provide a number of loca- tions offering pig hunting for a fee. Many landowners may already be leasing their lands for the hunting of other species and therefore may be unwilling to allow access to others. Ads placed in local newspapers may be an alternative method of identify- ing landowners interested in hunter-provided control efforts. Can I catch a disease from wild pigs? Wild pigs can carry a number of diseases, the most common being pseudorabies and swine brucellosis. Of these two diseases, swine brucellosis warrants particular con- cern because an infected pig can transmit the disease to humans. Hunters should take precautions by wearing rubber or latex gloves and eye wear while field dressing pigs and then thoroughly wash their hands and disinfect equipment used during that process. It is impossible to simply look at a wild pig and determine if it carries swine brucellosis, therefore better safe than sorry on all pigs field dressed! These diseases cannot be transmitted by consuming feral pork but as is the case for domestic pork products, thorough cooking (160 degrees F) is a must! How can I deal with deer and wild pigs that are depredating on my property? Since wild pigs are not protected in Texas, they may be taken at any time on private property. The only license requirement for wild pigs is a hunting license. For wildlife that is protected, such as white-tailed deer, there is a depredation permit that may be issued that allows a person to kill the protected wildlife. To obtain a depredation permit, a person must clearly show that wildlife protected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code is causing serious damage to agricultural, horticultural, or aquacultural interests or other property, or is a threat to public safety. To begin the permit appli- cation process, the person who desires to kill the protected wildlife must give written notice of the facts to the county judge of the county or to the mayor of the municipality in which the damage or threat occurs. Are there any toxicants that I can use to control wild pigs? No, there are no products registered for use as toxicants for wild pig control. The Texas Department of Agriculture has successfully prosecuted landowners that have chosen to try and reduce wild pig populations via the use of toxicants. Don’t do it–it is illegal! 2 Can I sell the wild pigs that I trap off my property? Yes. Many landowners chose to recoup some of their investment in equipment and time by selling some or all of the wild pigs they trap to “buying stations”. To find the buying station nearest you, consult your county Extension agent or contact the nearest Texas Animal Health Commission office. The price paid varies with the mar- ket, but usually the largest pigs are worth the most per pound. Buying stations then transport the wild pigs to one of several processing facilities found within the state. Each pig is inspected before processing and the various cuts can be found on restau- rant menus in the U.S. as well as exported for consumption in Europe and Asia. Can wild pigs be hunted on Sunday, at night, year round, or with dogs? Wild pigs can be hunted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They can be hunted at night and year-round. Also, dogs can be used to take these animals. Do I need a hunting license to hunt wild pigs? The answer is “it depends”. The Texas Legislature has granted landowners some relief by stating that“ landowners and their designated agents” can control wild pigs causing property damage by any legal means without benefit of a hunting license. However, for those individuals that are hunting wild pigs solely for recreational pur- poses, a Texas hunting license is required. If in doubt, consult with the game warden assigned to the county where the control/hunting activity will take place. Can I hunt wild pigs anytime? Yes, as long as you have permission form the landowner or within designated times on public land. In general, there is no closed season or bag limit and wild pigs can be hunted anytime, day or night. However, if hunting between dusk and daylight, give the local game warden a courtesy call in advance to let them know that you will be hunting at night with lights. What is the power of their bite? What other animal can it be likened to in that re- gard? They have extremely strong jaws to crack open hard-shelled nuts such as hickory nuts and pecans. As they predate upon or scavenge animal carcasses, they can easi- ly break bones and often consume the entire carcass, often leaving little if any sign behind. 3 How many they average per litter and how often they can breed in a year? The wild pig is the most prolific large mammal on the face of the Earth—but they are not “born pregnant”! The average is between 5 and 6 pigs per litter. Sows have ap- proximately 1.5 litters per year. Are more litters per year and larger litter sizes possi- ble? Absolutely yes! However, I am using long-term averages, not what can occur under ideal conditions– which usually unsustainable over the long haul. Young fe- males do not typically have their first litter until they are 13+ months of age, even though they can be sexually mature at 6 to 8 months of age or even earlier in some cases. What is the average lifespan of a wild pig? Mortality rates vary greatly-impacting the very young and the very old primarily. Predation is not a big issue once they reach about 10 to 15 pounds. Hunting can be a significant mortality factor in some regions but generally is not enough to offset population growth. Depending on a variety of these factors, plus disease, vehicle collisions etc., average lifespan is probably between 4 and 8 years of age. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service surveyed landowners in 2011 to determine an esti- mate of how many wild pigs are removed from the Texas landscape each year. We estimated 753,646 wild pigs were removed by landowner-initiated efforts in 2010. This will help refine rate of population growth and population estimate models even more. How heavy can they grow to? Weights depend on genetic background and food availability. Generally, males can reach larger weights than females but this is not a hard and fast rule. Average weights vary but run 200 pounds for adult males and 175 pounds for adult females. A 300-pound wild pig is a large pig. The unusually large weights of 500 pounds + oc- casionally reported in the media are very rare. How strong is their sense of smell? The wild pig’s sense of smell is well developed (much better than both their eyesight and hearing) and they rely strongly on it to detect danger and search out food. They are capable of sensing some odors 5-7 miles away and may be able to detect odors as much as 25 feet underground! Appealing to this tremendous sense of smell is often essentially as fermented or scented baits can provide additional attraction to make them more vulnerable to trapping.