By: Dan Gaskins, Extension Assistant
As feral hogs continue to spread, more and more landowners
find themselves in the position of having to do something about it. Whether you
are new to landownership or your property has been in your family for
generations, you may find yourself asking, “What do I do?” Don’t worry, you are
not alone.
The prospect of “controlling” feral
hogs on a property can be daunting, but do not be discouraged. We often
describe feral hog management as a marathon because it requires dedication and
time. Every marathon, however, begins with a first step. What is the first step
for feral hogs? Get a game camera (or two).
Using
your camera(s), track the pigs on your property. Find out where they are
feeding and what are they eating. This is usually the easiest sign to find, you can find out more about feral hog sign by watching this video.Next determine how many there are. Try to identify individuals based on distinct markings. Don’t assume you are seeing the same pigs every time. When you place the camera, try to include a reference object to give you an estimate of the sizes of the animals.
A feral hog
caught on camera, note the distinctive spots
Next, determine their route to the
feeding site. The pictures should give you an idea of the direction they are
coming from. Look around for tracks, scat, and other sign to indicate their
passage. Look in the direction of water, as they are very likely to frequent
that area. Find a point along the trail where the animals are funneled through
a point (such as a fence crossing) and deploy your camera. Are all the pigs you
observed from the feeding site coming through this path?
Once you have determined where they
are coming to and how they are getting there, you can locate where they are
coming from. This will be where they take cover during the daytime, so look for
water and thick brush. Feral hogs cover a sizable home range, so the trail may
lead off your property. If you are not familiar with the adjacent property, a
quick look on Google Earth can give you an idea of the vegetation and where the
animals are likely located. This is also a good opportunity to talk to and
collaborate with your neighbor.
Now that you know where the pigs
are, their travel routes, their eating habits, and their numbers, you are ready
to select a plan of attack. Whatever method or methods you choose, they will be
more successful if you take the important first step of tracking the pigs.
Cameras like
this one are a vital tool in the management of feral hogs.
For free
educational programming or technical assistance with feral hogs please contact
us:
Mark Tyson,
Southeast Texas, 979-845-4698, mark.tyson@ag.tamu.edu
Josh Helcel,
North Central Texas, 254-248-0532, josh.helcel@ag.tamu.edu
Our services
are provided free of charge through a Clean Water Act 319(h) non-point source
grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency