Wild Pig
Newsletter
Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Unit ~ Vol.1:2 ~ Summer 2016 ~ www.feralhogs.tamu.edu
In this issue 3 Urban Wild Pig Video Series
Wild Pig Outreach in Action: Face-to-face Educational Programs By: Mark Tyson, M.S., Extension Associate, Wildlife and Fisheries and Richard Parrish, M.S., County Extension Agent, Leon County, Texas
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” – Albert Einstein. Providing face-to-face educational programs are just one of the ways the wild
4 Seasonal Spotlight: The Hog Days of Summer 5 Emerging Technology and Innovation in Wild Pig Management
pig team provides research-based information to the public. Programs can be valuable to both landowners and members of the public seeking to learn about wild pigs and their management. Wild pigs have been a problem in Texas for well over 20 years and new, relevant information is often hard to find, especially online.
6 Upcoming Programs
These programs present an opportunity for land managers to receive the latest information on how to remove wild pigs and reduce their damage. These events provide a chance for landowners to ask questions and get answers right away. Additionally, it is an opportunity for participants to learn from other attendees. Many times, questions generate other questions that lead to (Continued on page 2)
8 Trending Articles and Videos
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ~ Vol.1:2 2 (Continued from page 1)
people do not attend wild pig workshops just for this
a discussion following the workshop. These
reason. People attend these workshops because they
discussions lead to neighbors working together
are looking for ways to get a better handle on the wild
to effectively manage wild pigs within their
pigs damaging their property and impacting the
community. There is a high value to these
profitability of their operations. They look to AgriLife
collaborations as they can be the early beginnings of
Extension programs as a source of quality information
landowner cooperatives. These co-ops can be
that will provide them the knowledge and skills they
extremely effective at reducing wild pig impacts across
need in order to address issues that are important to
a large area of land.
them.
Face-to-face workshops are designed in such a
Face-to-face wild pig educational programs also
manner as to describe how wild pigs became a problem
help to improve the overall Texas A&M AgriLife
in Texas and explain the economic, environmental, and
Extension program. Participants are asked to complete
health damage they can cause. Reduction techniques
a post-program survey which evaluates the program’s
are discussed, explaining the benefits and drawbacks of
quality and provides the attendees an opportunity to
each. Presentations at these workshops typically take
give constructive feedback. Items such as knowledge
place in the form of a slideshow, however they can also
gained, plans for practice adoption and likelihood to
include hands-on trapping demonstrations. These
recommend AgriLife Extension as a contact for
workshops are also a great way for multiple state and
information on wild pigs are included in the survey.
federal agencies to provide their expertise. Our
This feedback from participants allows Extension
workshops frequently feature speakers from Texas
professionals the opportunity to understand the
Wildlife Services, Texas Animal Health Commission,
benefits of their programming and identify subject
Texas Department of Agriculture and Texas Parks and
areas which need to be improved.
Wildlife Department. By the end of the
Between 2013 and 2015 the wild pig team
workshop, participants have the knowledge and skills
conducted 205 face-to-face workshops (188 were one-
they need to make a decision as to what method(s) of
hour presentations and 17 were four-hour workshops)
wild pig control would best suit individual or
with 10,271 attendees from across the state of Texas.
community needs. Additionally the face-to-face format
Surveyed workshop attendees indicated the knowledge
allows landowners to seek technical assistance from
they received from the programs would result in an
both state and federal professionals.
expected $2,178,278 reduction in wild pig damage in
While offering continuing education units (CEUs)
the upcoming year once practices were implemented.
to private pesticide applicators is a great drawing card
Participants reported the following increases in
for these events, our experience suggests that most
knowledge: wild pig biology-89%, lethal control options-83%, efficient trap/bait techniques-88.2% and types/extent of pig damage-73.6%. Additionally, those surveyed indicated they would adopt an average of 2.5 out of 8 management practices per participant. Face-to-face educational programs are a great way to reach agricultural producers and the general public with research-based information on wild pigs. These programs help to build a sense of community among local citizens and keeps the AgriLife Extension name in their minds as the source of educational information regarding issues that are important to them.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ~ Vol.1:2 3
C oC m i ni gn gS oS oo no n om
Part I of this series will explore the growing concern of wild pigs in suburban areas.
Urban Wild Pigs VIDEO SERIES
By: Josh Helcel, Extension Associate, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
As urban sprawl continues to expand the wildlandurban interface, populations of wild pigs are inevitably encroaching upon the urban landscape. Research indicates that interactions between humans and exotic invasive wild pigs can lead to negative impacts including residential damage, vehicle collision, disease transmission and in some instances, attacks on pets or humans. The wild pig team at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service recently collaborated with Texas Wildlife Services on a two part video series to extend knowledge and provide trapping solutions on this emerging issue.
Part II of this series will address what can be done to reduce the impacts of wild pigs in suburban areas. For more information about wild pigs, their impacts and how to effectively reduce populations, please visit our website at feralhogs.tamu.edu
featuring
Adam Henry
is an Urban Wildlife Damage Management Biologist with the Texas Wildlife Services Program. His primary duty location is the DFW MetroPlex but he services all 61 counties of the Fort Worth District. Henry is also active in educational programs and routinely collaborates with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to provide trapping demonstrations.
Subscribe to our Newsletter by emailing josh.helcel@tamu.edu
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ~ Vol.1:2 4
Seasonal Spotlight: The Hog Days of Summer By: Josh Helcel, Extension Associate, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
After a mild winter and unusually
each year in Texas alone. The good
wet spring the warmer temperatures,
news for this year is that research
and longer days of summer are
conducted in Texas over a 12 year
finally upon us. However, current
period (1995
early summer conditions are a
damage management” observed the
marked departure from previous
least activity/damage during years
availability decreases. In the
years. Lakes, rivers and other water
with the highest rainfall (Muir and
meantime, consider snaring wild
bodies across Texas are now filled to
McEwen 2007). While
pigs along nighttime travel routes or
capacity and in many cases beyond.
high food resource availability can
targeting wild pigs with nighttime
The land is lush and green nearly
translate into reduced trapping
strategic shooting efforts. The use
everywhere. The abundance of
success, it can also mean reduced
of a variety of strategies will
resources on the landscape certainly
crop damage for producers. The majority of a wild pig’s diet consists
generally serve to increase the
influences the activities of native wildlife, including non-
of vegetation, and with more natural
native wild pigs (Sus scrofa). With
vegetation present, less damage is
Conclusion
so much water and food available,
observed on agricultural crops.
This summer a little patience may
– 2006) on “feral hog
travel patterns. As summer progresses, trapping effectiveness will generally increase as resource
success of any abatement effort.
these animals can now afford to be
go a long way in the success of wild
more selective in their foraging and
pig management efforts such as
are less restricted in their
trapping. Strategies such as strategic
movements. These factors can
shooting, snaring and aerial gunning
potentially lead to increased
may become viable alternatives in
difficulty training pigs to bait for
areas where high resource
trapping efforts. But Texas summers
availability makes bait less
are long, and the months ahead
attractive. Eventually the waters will
remain among the best to enact
Wild Pigs Know How to Beat the
abatement efforts.
Summer Heat As summer temperatures continue to
Rainfall Impacts Wild Pig
increase, wild pigs are biologically
Agricultural Damage
required to find ways to beat the
By early summer Texas agricultural
heat. These animals do not possess
production is in full swing, and each
sweat glands, and this directly
year many producers incur crop loss
impacts their behavior. In order to
and other damages from wild pigs
stay cool wild pigs must wallow,
that target crops. Wild pig rooting
occupy shaded areas, and restrict
behavior, consumption of crops and
their movements. In most cases this
newborn livestock is estimated to
means little daytime activity and
cause at least $52 million in damages
primarily nocturnal feeding and
subside and the heat will dry out the landscape just as it does each year. By the end of July two things will happen; (1) the Texas summer will inevitably force pigs to access bait and thereby increase the success of trapping efforts and (2) we will all
…
once again be wishing for rain
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ~ Vol.1:2 5
Emerging Technology and Innovation in Wild Pig Management By: Mark Tyson, Extension Associate, Wildlife and Fisheries Extension Unit, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Randy M. Smith, District Supervisor, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services Wild pigs are one of the worst
you a view of the landscape from
technologies to get a closer look.
invasive species plaguing the United
200 miles or more above the earth. A
States today. Their innate ability to
great free mapping tool for Texans
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS):
succeed in varied habitats coupled
can be found at Texas A&M Forest
Getting a Birds Eye View of the
with their extremely high
Service’s Map My Property
Landscape
reproductive output make them a
webpage. Research suggests that the
considerable threat to our nation’s
average farm size in Texas is about
under the Christmas tree is also
natural and agricultural resources.
525 acres, yet wild pig home ranges
making its mark in the field of aerial
With population estimates reported
can vary between 500 and 1500 acres
surveillance and wild pig
in the millions, the sheer number of
or more (Figure 1). Having an idea of
management. Commonly called
wild pigs in Texas make for quite a
the landscape around your piece of
“Drones,” the sizes of these
challenge. However, the rapid
Texas will help to better understand
unmanned systems range from palm-
proliferation of technology and
how wild pigs utilize the area as a
sized toys to the large plane-sized
innovation brings about many
whole. Habitats associated with
military aircraft. Currently there are
promising tools and techniques in the
water, known as riparian habitats, are
universities and private companies
war on wild pigs.
often selected by wild pigs. Using
using larger fixed-wing UASs in
aerial images you can quickly assess
agriculture that do everything from
are, you are nowhere compared to
how preferred habitats relate to your
crop spraying to using high
where you can go.”
piece of Texas. Once you have
definition thermal cameras that can
identified these preferred habitats
pick out low nutrients or even insect
“It does not matter where you
– Bob Proctor
We can all stand to improve our techniques and tactics in the realm of wild pig management. In harnessing
One of the most popular
“toys”
you can use other emerging (Continued on page 6)
the power of technology we have the opportunity to innovatively employ new tactics on the landscape. Here are a few ideas on integrating technology into your current wild pig management efforts.
Online Mapping Tools: Gaining a Landscape Scale Perspective Understanding the lay of the land can be a challenge to some landholders, but it can be a valuable tool in effectively managing wild pigs. A variety of free online mapping tools are available to give
Figure 1. Wild pig home ranges typically overlap multiple landholdings
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ~ Vol.1:2 6 to pick-up heat signatures in low-
field of activity.
light and could even allow them to
allows the flexibility to recover
damage. These systems are capable
fly at night, though FAA is expected
photos from the secondary box or
of staying airborne for several hours.
to set rules to limit these UASs to
with Wi-Fi, to directly send the
daytime flying and visual line of
photos to the pickup or ATV. The
sight.
benefit here is allows minimum
(Continued from Page 5)
On the consumer side, many UASs cost $500 to $2500, weigh under four pounds, are capable of carrying
Flight time for these light-weight
This technology
disturbance of the target area but
high definition cameras, and can
UASs is usually less than 30 minutes
still gives relative closeness to the
reach heights over 500 feet and
per battery charge. For a landowner,
site, if a visual inspection is
travel up to several miles away from
that 30 minutes can mean covering a
required. On the down side, the
the transmitter. Most of the UASs in
lot of acreage from the air that will
constant Wi-Fi connection can have
save on unnecessary walking or
an impact on the battery life of these
driving.
cameras. Using a solar panel with
these categories transcend
“toys” and
fall into a category of use targeted by novice hobbyists up to professional
rechargeable batteries can extend
cinematographers. The Federal
Wi-Fi, Radio Signal and Cellular
Aviation Administration (FAA)
Enabled Trail Cameras:
regulates the airspace of the United
Monitoring Wild Pigs on Your
into the farther category is a trail
States and regulates use of UASs
Terms
camera that can send photos via a
Please review
Trail cameras are an absolute
https://www.faa.gov/uas/ for the
necessity for wild pig managers.
latest rules about using UASs.
These tools are an ever-observant
What use can aerial camera
eye, watching every move wild pigs
platforms give an individual
make in the monitoring area.
interested in wild pig management?
Traditional trail cameras require the
Like the aerial mapping programs,
user to manually access the camera’s
they give a bird’s eye view of the
memory card to view or download
land. This is beneficial when
the captured images. This can be a
searching for and surveying damage
real setback for land managers,
caused by wild pigs. Many times
especially those who do not live on
this damage occurs in the middle of
the property being managed.
a crop, away from the bordering
Technological advances in trail
roads, out of sight from ground
cameras allow for both a local and
observers, but not from high above.
remote solution to access data stored
These UASs, when attached with a
on cameras. The transmission range
live view camera that transmits
for these devices could be classified
instantly to the receiver, commonly
as far, farther and farthest.
called first-person view or FPV,
In the far category, several trail
allows the operator see as though
cameras are equipped with Wi-Fi
looking out a cockpit. With this
capability that
view, it is also possible to actually
allows access to stored data from a
see and follow wild pigs. In
distance of usually 100 ft. or less.
addition, as technology advances, the
Some devices actually
use of thermal cameras on these
transmit photos to a secondary
UASs will likely allow the camera
hidden box away from the camera’s
the operating time. Another option which would fall
(Continued on page 7)
Upcoming Programs 63016: Erath County Wild Pig Program (2 Hr) 71116: Hays County Wild Pig Control Update (1 Hr) 71216: Blanco County Wild Pig Program (1 Hr) Josh Helcel josh.helcel@tamu.edu (512) 5543785
Tell us how we can help you. Educational Programs Technical Assistance Educational Resources
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ~ Vol.1:2 7 (Continued from Page 6)
marketing the use of remotely
trap components for years, the latest
triggered traps. These devices
is a trap that utilizes panels and pins.
radio signal. Some of these systems
utilize switches that receive a
have been reported to transmit
wireless signal to activate an
trailer when it is folded up. When
images up to 1 mile away. The key
electronic lock or solenoid.
on site, the panels are swung into
to maximizing distance is making
Depending on the type of switch,
The whole thing serves as the
place and pinned to adjacent panels.
sure the line of sight between the
the triggering signal can be from 100
transmitter and receiver is
feet away with a key fob, or with a
into panels and work just as any of
unobstructed. Areas with hills and
computer keyboard, or cell phone
the other panels. It is possible to
uneven terrain will reduce the
from across the country. In
build the trap in a variety of shapes.
system’s ability to transmit photos.
suburban areas, it is possible to
This can be a great option for farm
connect these devices to a home Wi-
frame remain as part of the trap
and ranch owners, allowing for wild
Fi network and use internet cameras
design and may even incorporate an
pig monitoring from the comfort of
to monitor. In more remote areas, it
access door for the operator.
their home. This option will usually
will be necessary to pair the trapping
require a tall directional antenna.
device with a cellular camera. There
traditional means or can be paired
are trap designs that can drop a net
with the remote activated devices
or a large suspended metal trap.
mentioned previously. These trap
The final option, which falls into the farthest category, is cellular enabled cameras. These cameras
There are other designs that simply
The trap's guillotine doors are built
The wheels, tongue, and trailer
Triggering the gates can be through
designs benefit the mobile wild pig
utilize the cellular network to
release the door to shut and can be
trapper. They allow the user to
transmit photos. Using this
adapted to various trap designs. The
trailer the whole trap and set up on
technology you can receive real-time
benefit of using this type of trap is
site, by one individual, in about an
images from the field. There are a
that you have the ability, through the
hour.
variety of models available that are
camera’s pictures, to watch the wild
tailored to operate on the network of
pigs enter into the trap. You can
us to do a job more efficiently, may
a particular cellular service provider.
then send the trigger signal for the
be arguable, depending on the job
These cameras offer absentee
doors to close anytime you want.
we are doing. In the field of wild
landowners the flexibility to monitor
The devices will run on 12-24 volt
pig management, new technology
wild pig management efforts without
batteries and may require solar
becomes another tool in the tool-
the physical constraints of other
chargers to help maintain the
box. Does he that has the most
models. With convenience comes
batteries. Like the trail cameras,
tools make for the better worker?
cost, these camera systems require a
there will be cost associated with the
No, but having the right tool at the
service charge based on the amount
cellular data plans. It is possible to
right time, and one that makes your
of data and duration of service.
build these devices as a DIY project,
job easier is always welcome.
However, not having to drive an 80
but the builder can expect to spend at
mile round trip to check your
least $600 on materials.
cameras can be quite beneficial for the nominal fees involved.
All-in-One Trapping Units:
One of the latest technologies to
Trapping Devices: Armchair
hit the wild pig trapping market is
Trapping
the all-in-one trailered trap. While
A number of companies are
When combating one of the worst invasive species out there, we need all the help we can get.
Mobile Trapping Remotely Operated or Automated
Whether new technology allows
most people involved with pig trapping have been trailering their
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ~ Vol.1:2 8
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Check out our
Management App
Articles:
available at http://wild-wonderings.blogspot.com/
High Tech Hog Trapping learn to use technology like game cameras and remote triggers for hog trapping (click to view)
The Best Choice for a Corral Trap Gate presents a comparison of typical corral trap gates and suggests which style is most effective. (click to view)
Read Our
DIY Hog Traps
BLOG
guides you through the process of building several types of hog traps (click to view)
Find Our Educational Resources
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This publication was developed by the Enhancing Feral Hog Management Project, with funding support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through a Clean Water Act §319(h) Nonpoint Source grant administered by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. Additional funding was contributed by the San Antonio River Authority.
available at https://www.youtube.com/user/WFSCAgriLife/playlists
Texas Invaders: Feral Hogs highlights feral hog impacts and presents resources available for assistance in abating feral hog damage in Texas.. (click to view)
Shooting Techniques for Wild Pigs learn about the daytime and night time shooting techniques used in management. (click to view)
W E N
Can Wild Pigs Jump? learn about jumping abilities of wild pigs and panel height recommendation for trapping efforts. (click to view)