Managing feral pig populations

Feral pigs are a widespread and destructive agricultural pest that cause significant environmental and financial damage. They can also carry a wide range of parasites and diseases that pose a serious threat not only to livestock, but also to native wildlife and domestic pets.  

Numbers can fluctuate widely according to food availability, but it’s estimated Australia has around 24 million feral pigs – found predominantly in NSW, the Northern Territory and Queensland.  

Once they become feral, it only takes a few generations before domestic pigs revert to a wild ‘look’ (largely black, muscular upper body and bristly hair).

Control options 

Feral pigs are difficult to manage due to their ability to breed quickly – and their noted ability to change behaviours and movement patterns in response to control methods.  

Effective control requires population reduction of at least 50% to 70% each year, with best practice management typically requiring a combination of control techniques. 

The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions has produced a number of useful resources to help producers manage and control feral pigs, including:

1. The Feral Pig Toolkit, which provides useful guidance and technical resources. 

2. The Glovebox Guide for Feral Pig Management, which forms part of the wider PestSmart publications series. It provides useful information about feral pigs and outlines the pros and cons of available control methods. 

3. The PestSmart website also contains detailed Standard Operating Procedures for control methods, including: 

• trapping
• aerial shooting
• ground shooting
• PIGOUT 1080 baits, used in conjunction with the HogHopper delivery system, and  
• HOGGONE sodium nitrate baits. 

4. The FeralPigScan app is a free resource enabling producers to map and monitor feral pig activity, record or share images and information, document crop or soil damage, and record any control activities undertaken.