Wild Pig Damage Abatement Education and Applied Research

218 Pages·2013·14.38 MB·English

by  Pam Hickman

Wild Pig Damage Abatement
Education and Applied Research Activities
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension
Center-Overton

June 2013
Fast Facts

• The first educational program co nducted in Texas on wild pigs and
abating their damage was on March 22, 1990 in Cayuga, Texas. A
national symposium was also hosted by Extension in 1993 in Kerrville,

Texas.

• Extension educational programm ing on wild pigs and abating their
damage has returned $26.52 for every $1.00 invested based on a
Texas Department of Agriculture – funded pilot program through the

Texas A&M Research and Extension Center at Overton (2006-2012).

• Based on a survey characterizing wild pig removal in Texas,

landowners removed an estimated 753,646 (29% of the estimated 2.6
million wild pigs in Texas) during CY2010. Trapping accounted for the
most pigs removed (57%), while shooting (aerial, terrestrial and
recreational hunting) accounted for 35%. The use of dogs (6%) and
snares (2%) accounted for the remainder of pigs removed by Texas

landowners.

• Extension educational efforts co nducted from the Texas A&M AgriLife
Research and Extension Center-Overton have included 2 international
presentations, 12 national presentations and 13 state-wide
presentations (2006-present).

• A wild pig radio telemetry study was conducted by Texas A&M AgriLife

Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Noble Foundation
(OK) to collect information on wild pigs. Data analyses in this study
have revealed that the home ran ge of mature sows averages 1,071
acres.

• Extension contacts with the media regarding wild pigs and abatement
of their damage have included 29 television interviews, 30 radio
interviews, 80 newspaper interviews, 4 magazine articles authored, 21

magazine article interviews and 7 podcast/utube interviews (2006-
present).

• A wild pig demonstration site has been established at the Texas A&M
AgriLife Research and Extension Center-Overton and is open to the

public for viewing best management practices for abating wild pig
damage through their control.
Wild Pig Damage Abatement
Education and Applied Research Activities
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension
Center-Overton

Compiled by:

Billy Higginbotham
Regents Fellow, Professor and
Extension Wildlife and Fisheries Specialist
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center
Overton, TX

June 2013
FOREWARD

The wild pig is an invasive exotic species introduced into what is now the
United States at Tampa Bay, Florida in 1539. Three short years later, Hernando
de Soto’s exploration party entered what would become Texas with approximately

800 pigs in tow. These pigs, along with domesticated swine as new frontiers were

settled, would provide some of the seed stock that would become feralized
populations in subsequent centuries in Texas and across the southeastern United
States.

Wild pig damage became an issue in Texas beginning in the mid-1980’s.
Since then, Extension education and ap plied research geared toward abating
damage by reducing wild pig populations have been an area of focus.

The contents of this report provide information on the scope of Extension
education and applied research activitie s coordinated by faculty and staff
headquartered at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at

Overton.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Introduction/Background
II. Characteristics and Economics of Damage
III. Texas A&M AgriLife Response to Wild Pig Damage
IV. Control Techniques - Best Management Practices
V. Excluding Wild Pigs From Deer Feeding Stations
VI. Wild Pig Telemetry Study
VII. Wild Pig Take Survey
VIII. Population Modeling Study
IX. Examples of Educational Outreach via the Media
X. Wild Pig FAQs
XI. Websites
XII. Appendices
Current range of the Eurasian wild boar.

Hernando de Soto’s exploration route from Tampa Bay,

Florida to Texas.

The name “wild pigs” is the best description for feral

hogs, Eurasian wild boars and their “hybrids”.
Wild pig estimated population size and distribution in 1990.

Wild pig estimated population size and distribution in 2012.
I. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND
TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION WILD PIG DAMAGE ABATEMENT
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center-Overton
(March 2011-May 2012)

Billy Higginbotham
Professor and Extension Wildlife and Fisheries Specialist
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Introduction

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides quality, relevant, research-based
educational information to the people of Texas. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
is the only state agency uniquely positioned to address the educational aspects focusing on wild
pigs and abating their damage to Texas agriculture.

Background

Hogs were first introduced to the New World in Florida in 1539 and subsequently into
Texas by the mid-1500’s. This source, along with free-ranging hog production practices and
purposeful introductions of Eurasian wild boars have contributed to the present status of wild
pigs in the state. Today, the wild pig is considered to be an invasive exotic species with a
population estimate of 2.6 million head in Texas and > 5 million head nationwide. A 2011
study by A&M AgriLife Extension and the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources-TAMUS
estimated that approximately 79% (134 million acres) of the Texas landscape represented
suitable habitat for wild pigs. Pigs currently occupy approximately 90% to 95% of Texas
counties, 47 other states and 4 Canadian provinces.

A conservative estimate of wild pig damage to Texas agriculture alone is $52 million
annually, with additional annual expenditures of $7 million for repairing damage and/or
controlling pigs. These economic impacts do not include damages occurring to urban/suburban
landscapes, ecological/environmental concerns and personal property/injuries due to disease
transmission and/or vehicle-pig collisions. Nationwide, all forms of damage are estimated to
exceed 1 to 1 ½ billion dollars annually.

Extension education directed at landowners focuses on the adoption of best
management practices in order to abate wild pig damage. To accomplish this goal, Texas A&M
AgriLife Extension utilized one-on-on contacts, group educational meetings, method and result
demonstrations, mass media and websites in order to disseminate research-based information
to landowners in particular with a secondary audience of the general public.
II. CHARACTERISTICS AND ECONOMICS
OF DAMAGE