Targeted Wild Pig Feeder by WPF, Inc. There are only two types of people in Texas, those who have pigs and those who re goin to get em. Is this an exaggeration or an overstatement? Texas A&M University s AgriLife Extension program has devoted years and has conducted several research studies. They are one of the leading research institutes regarding the feral hog/wild pig (Sus scrofa). They have published numerous studies and continuous research, to name a few Feral Hogs in Texas, Feral Hog Laws and Regulations in Texas, Feral Hog Population Growth, Density and Harvest in Texas. For our purposes of analysis and discussion, our projections of the wild pig severity, growth and control, will be based primarily upon the efforts of Texas A&M University s research and publications. Introduction Wild pigs by nature are free-ranging opportunistic, adaptable, non-indigenous omnivores. They are intelligent, prolific and are very destructive. When left to their own resources in search of food, they have been known to cause extensive damage of over billions of dollars and the spread of multiple diseases. It has been acknowledge by the USDA, June 0 that the wild pig carries over 0 diseases and 7 parasites which can be transmitted to crops, people, pets, livestock and wildlife. If their rooting is left unchecked or undirected, substantial damage will result in neighborhoods, farm land, crops, and ecosystems. It has been estimated that damages in Texas alone are over $00 million annually per Texas Department of Agriculture and $. billion nationally. Not only will wild pigs feast on field crops such as corn, milo, rice, peanuts, hay, turf and wheat - there s not a crop they won t eat, but have been known to be very efficient predators as well. They will prey on young livestock and small animals. A hungry adult wild pig is an aggressive, destructive and sometimes very capable predator. And, equally important, other than man, have NO natural or significant predators themselves. WPF, Inc., PO Box 87, St. Petersburg, FL 7
Disease Reservoirs Considerable research has been done on parasite loads and disease potential of wild pigs. Wild pigs have been found to be potential reservoirs for domestic livestock diseases, among which are hog chlorea, brucellosis, trichinosis, foot and mouth disease, African swine fever, and pseudorabies. Hogs have been found to test positive for leptospirosis and areas of heavy hog use have been found to harbor higher concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria. The potential of transmission of disease to other wildlife, livestock, and man does exist, as the documentation of the loss of 0 head of cattle in Dimmit County, Texas in 989 due to transmission of pseudorabies by feral hogs (Turman, ADC, and USDA) would indicate. Reproduction What s being said by those that have been around wild pigs - out of piglets born, thirteen will survive. Wild pigs are prolific. They have the highest reproduction of any hoofed animal, capable of breeding in as little as six months of age; their gestation is about days. Normally, a sow will have on an average litter size of four to six but have been known to have under ideal conditions as many as ten to twelve. While capable of producing two litters per year, research has shown the majority of sows have only one per year. Young may be born throughout the year with peak production in the early spring. The young are born with a : male to female sex ratio. Wild pigs generally travel in family groups called sounders, comprised generally of two sows and their young. Mature adult boars are usually solitary, keeping to themselves, only joining a herd to breed. Population and Growth Texas A&M University's AgriLife Extension service conducts wild pig research. Mark Tyson, from the project, said that studies indicate that there are between.8 and. million wild pigs in Texas. Some 79% of the state's land mass is a suitable habitat for them, and they have infiltrated almost every county. Tyson said that as things stand, the number of wild pigs in Texas is predicted to grow by 6% annually, roughly doubling in five years. There are other estimates as high as tripling. On an average population estimate of.6 million, Texas wild pig population will increase to - 7. million, and that study was completed almost THREE years ago. The leading pig biologist, Dr. Jack Mayer was quoted August 0 in Huffington Post of saying There could be up to 8 million. What s today s estimate? The average feral hog density in Texas ranged from.-. hogs/square mile from reported studies. By multiplying the density estimate to the total potential suitable feral hog habitat, we estimated the number of feral hogs statewide to be between.8 and. million, with the average being.6 million. Feral Hog Population Growth, Density and Harvest in Texas, August 0 WPF, Inc., PO Box 87, St. Petersburg, FL 7
U.S. Distribution of Wild Pig by County - 0. The following table illustrates a given average population of feral hogs, an even sex ratio, levels of annual population growth and harvest, the model indicates growth or no growth over five years. As annual population harvest increases, annual population growth decreases. Initial Population of Feral Hogs Annual Population Growth Rate Annual Population Harvest Rate Five Year Population Increase,600,000 8% 0% 8,68,000,600,000 % % 6,6,000,600,000 6% 8%,,000,600,000 % %,8,000 Five Year Outcome. times. times.0 times.6 times,600,000 0% 66% 0 No population growth WPF, Inc., PO Box 87, St. Petersburg, FL 7
. The following figure - indicates areas in green which is suitable habitat for feral hogs, comprising 79% of the land mass in Texas. Control Duane Kraemer, a professor of veterinary physiology and pharmacology at Texas A&M University, and his team have discovered a promising birth control compound. Now all they have to do is figure out a way to get wild hogs, and only wild hogs, to ingest it. Nobody believes that can be done, he says. Tyler Campbell, a wildlife biologist with the USDA s National Wildlife Research Center at Texas A&M - Kingsville, and Justin Foster, a research coordinator for Texas Parks and Wildlife, are confident there must be a workable poison to kill wild hogs though, once again, the delivery system is the more vexing issue. Smithsonian, A Plague of Pigs in Texas, January 0. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reports that to keep the invasive species in check, Texas would have to cull nearly 66 percent of the animals to prevent them from breeding. That is a very tall order. In a 00 survey taken by the state s landowners, trapping and hunting methods accounted to 7,66 pigs taken in that year, amounting to roughly 9 percent of the population. WPF, Inc., PO Box 87, St. Petersburg, FL 7
Texas A&M AgriLife has published August 0 the same findings that population reduction measures need to increase drastically, up to 66% of the population will need to be removed annually on a long-term basis (i.e., five years or more) to reach a stable population. The control methods for the growing population have varied from hunting, trapping, snaring, dogging, harvesting and fencing. None specifically or all inclusively have had any significant impact! Texas highest removal estimates have only been 9%. Based on.6 million pigs, that s almost an additional million pigs annually needing to be eradicated to stay even, (66% - 9% = 7%;.7 x.6 million = @ million). The population has increased and become even more wide spread, and not just in Texas. Currently, wild pigs are reported in 9 states, as far north as Michigan and southerly as the Florida Keys. Without a more aggressive methodology and systemic approach, the problem will only increase. Projections Most published U.S. estimates of the wild pig population are approximately million of which half are in Texas. This is an estimate; no agency has any hard numbers. However, that figure was from 0. With reasonable assumption and understanding on how prolific the wild pig is, the estimate could be twice as many today! Their numbers have grown, their range has expanded and their destructive behavior goes unabated. Texas may have the most aggressive program(s) regarding the eradication of the wild pig snaring, fencing, dogging, aerial shoots, harvesting, trapping, and hunting. Still, the highest removal is only 9%. California and Florida (two and three respectively in pig population) are now witnessing the same pig growth, the same destruction of crops, farm land, and ecosystems. If the 66% eradication mark is to be met, and assuming the other states are as aggressive and as successful as Texas, close to million pigs need to be harvested, about,00 per day! That does NOT reduce the population ONLY keeps it even. It is not unrealistic to expect a necessary kill off rate of 0,000 a day for any true appreciable reduction. The following illustrations are population growth of the feral pig and comparing them with a field deer. NO COMPARISON! The feral pig is the most prolific of any hoofed animal. WPF, Inc., PO Box 87, St. Petersburg, FL 7
One Sow - One Litter per Year** Five Year Growth Extrapolation Litter Size: Year Litter Size: 6 Litter Size: 8 6 8 6 6 6 6 6 6,96,096,0 7,776,768 Growth Line: versus 6 Growth Line: 6 versus 8 9,000,000 8,000 7,776,768 0,000 7,000,000 6,000,000 Litter Size,000 Litter Size 6,000 0,000 Litter Size 6,000 Litter Size 8 0,000,000,96,000 06 6 6 6,0 6 6 7,776,000,096 08 6 ** One Sow can have litters every months and can average up to in a litter! ** Gestation time is approximately days, and a sow can start reproducing at 6 months of age! WPF, Inc., PO Box 87, St. Petersburg, FL 7
Reproduction Comparison: Deer versus Wild Pig Year Free Range Deer* Wild Pig* Reproduction: Deer versus Wild Pig 7 6,000 8,000 6,9, 8,000,,000 0,000 Comparison: Deer vs. Wild Pig Deer** Versus Wild Pig Twice/year Potential Number of Offspring? to Wild Pig 6,000,000 How often can They Reproduct? Once/year Deer 8,000,9,000 6 to 0 7 8 6 What is the Age of Reproductive Maturity? Avg. years 6 months How long of a Gestation Period? Apx. 00 days Apx. days What is the Potential Offspring in Years? deer versus, Wild Pigs!, *Optimal breeding for Deer (/ yr.) and Wild Pig (6/6 mos.) **per the University of Michigan, http://www.biokids.umich.edu/ Conclusion Two major concerns about feral swine shared by professional wildlife managers and livestock officials as well as livestock producers are: () that feral swine are known to be very adaptable, intelligent having a high reproductive capability with little or no predators and, because of their feeding habits and behavior, can significantly impact wild ecosystems; and () That feral swine are known disease carriers. Houston, we do have a problem, and time is critical! WPF, Inc., PO Box 87, St. Petersburg, FL 7