Landowners in Hays, Caldwell, and Travis counties are searching for ways to offset financial losses caused by feral hogs. One way to offset these losses is to sell live trapped feral hogs to approved holding facilities. However, there can be some danger involved in transporting feral hogs.
- When planning to move live hogs from a trap a rope should be tied to the gate, and draped to the outside of the trap, to allow easy opening without putting hands in or near the trap.
- Once a trap has captured feral hogs the safest way to transport them is to load them on a trailer. A livestock trailer, or other enclosed trailer, should be used to keep the hogs inside.
- There should be no gaps on the trailer large enough for a hog to escape. Any gaps in the trailer should be covered with livestock panels.
- First the trailer door should be opened and then backed to the trap. If there are any gaps around the trap door and trailer small sections of livestock panels or plywood can be used to close them.
- When there are no gaps around the trailer and trap use the rope to open the gate. If the hogs do not immediately run into the trailer walk to the side of the trap opposite the trailer to push them into it.
- After all of the hogs have entered the trailer close the trap gate. Pull the trailer away from the trap and close the trailer door. This may require two people, one to move the trailer and the other to close the door to keep the hogs from leaving.
- If you are loading the trailer alone a piece of livestock panel or plywood can be used to block the trailer until you get it moved forward to close the door.
- Once the hogs are secured on a trailer they can be held there for up to 7 days. From there they can be transported and sold to an approved holding facility, for a list of approved holding facilities look at http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/animal_health/feral_swine.html.
To hone your knowledge of feral hogs and reduction methods, seven publications were developed by Texas AgriLife Extension Service and can be downloaded at no charge by going to the Plum Creek Watershed Partnership website http://plumcreek.tamu.edu/feralhogs. Here, you will also find an on-line tool to report feral hog sightings or control measures, one report for cooperating landowners and another for the general public.
For more information, contact Jared Timmons at 254-485-4886 or jbtimmons@ag.tamu.edu.
Funding and support for the development of the Plum Creek Watershed Protection Plan is provided through a Clean Water Act §319(h) Nonpoint Source grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.