Livestock Concerns with Feral Hogs Aaron Sumrall Newton Co. Extension Agent
History of Feral Hogs Introduce to New World by De Soto in 1539 as a food source. Made it to Texas in 1680 s. Population explosion beginning in 1930 thru now Why? Great Depression.hardship of the 30 s. Imported for hunting opportunities.
What is the Current Status? Population estimates of >1 million. Occupy 244 of 254 counties. 2007- Caused $52 million in Ag only. $200/Hog/Year in Damage. 42 of 50 States.
Feral Hog Biology Life expectancy of 4-5 years. Reproductively capable of 6 months if nutrition is available. 1 st litter can be weaned before 1 st birthday of sow. Gestation of 115 days. Average littler size of 4-6 piglets. What do you call a group of feral hogs?
Feral Hog Biology.Continued Sounders typically of 6-12 individuals can be >30. Mature hogs from 110-300 lbs. Come in 3 flavors. Eurasian Wild Boar Domesticated hogs released Combination of the two
Areas of Feral Hog Damage Agricultural:$52 million in 2007. Disease Predation Habitat Destruction Accidents Sensitive Areas example Wetlands. Residential Recreational $800 million animal in Ag/Environmental.
Areas of Feral Hog Damage...Continued Length of tie required for land recovery. Loss of topsoil. Destruction of sensitive habitat. Predation of livestock and wildlife population. Introduction of other invasive species. Reduction or loss of native vegetation. Reduced water quality. Roadway damage, etc.
What are Legal Options? Hunting Trapping Dogs Snares Ariel Gunning
What else is Legal? Are you required to hold a hunting license shoot/hunt hogs? It Depends!!!
Is it Legal to Raise Feral Hogs? NO! It is not legal to posses or feed feral hogs without a permit.
Is it Legal to release Captured Feral Hogs? IT DEPENDS. *If captured, there are no laws to prevent release. *It is illegal to transport and release.
Is it Legal to Transport Feral Hogs? IT DEPENDS. Feral hogs can only be transported to locations holding a feral swine holding facility permit. It is not legal to transport feral hogs to locations that do not possess the proper permits.
What is the bag limit and hunting season for feral hogs? No bag limit!!! No closed season!!!
What is not Legal? Toxicants!!! Home Chemical Concoctions!!!
Are the any toxicants on the horizon for feral hog control? *Sodium Nitrite - Serious no target species concerns. - Delivery method concerns.
Management Efficiency Must become more efficient. Increase of 500,000 in the last 10-12 years. To hold populations steady constant, we must remove 70% of yearly production. Management of hogs is based on convenience rather than necessity.
Rangeland Concerns Length of time required for land recovery. Loss of topsoil. Destruction of sensitive habitat. Predation on livestock and wildlife populations. Introduction of other invasive species. Reduction or loss of native vegetation. Reduced water quality and quantity. Roadway damage, etc
Agricultural and Livestock Concerns Depredate cattle and consume crops. Contaminate water supply. Disease Loss of yield to pasture/hayland.
Agricultural Economics & Feral Hogs $800 million in agriculture and environmental loss annually. Average of $7,515 in damage loss to agricultural land owners in Texas. Average of $2,631 in control efforts annually. Loss of weaned animals and female slow to rise. Limbs of livestock fractured due to wallowing/rooting.
Livestock Concerns Will depredate cattle, sheep and goats. Attracted to odor of afterbirth. Harassment of livestock with young. Cause perception of lack of production or predation. Little evidence after depredation by feral hogs. Usually seasonal depredation or brought on by a stress situation.
Sheep and Goat Issues with Feral Hogs Will feed on all age classes of goats. Protection animals do not work (ex: donkey) Feed on twin lambs 5-6 x more frequent than on single lambs. When within 100m of sheep, feral hogs caught lambs in 24% of chases in research studies. Hogs are second only to coyotes as predators to sheep and goats in some areas of the state.
Disease Concerns Reservoir of up to 30 diseases of concern. Water contamination. Some diseases are transmissible to humans and livestock. Large concern in domestic swine production. Relatively little known of potential disease magnitude in Texas.
What should land managers be doing? Learn how to read signs. Have an ongoing approach to feral hog management. Do not release captured hogs. Take the IPM approach. Integrated Pest Management. Use everything that is legal in management. Encourage surrounding land managers to do the same.
Questions?