Wetland Management
Feral Pigs and Wetlands
Contributor: Nicola Sheard
WetlandCare Australia
nicolasheard@wetlandcare.com.au
Tel: 1 800 816 147
Feral Pig Populations
Feral pigs are a significant issue for wetland managers and landholders with wetlands on their property. The pigs threaten the ecological communities they are found in by destroying native plants and killing native animals.
Feral pigs are found to inhabit 61% of NSW and the ACT, including the coastal areas. The pigs are heat intolerant and prefer wetlands, water holes and riparian environments.
It is not known what the population of feral pigs is in Australia, with estimates ranging from 3.5 million to 23.5 million across mainland Australia. Their population fluctuates due to environmental conditions and the availability of food and water. Extended dry periods and control programs can halve feral pig densities but they recover quickly due to a reproductive potential that is more similar to rabbits than other pests of a similar size.
Feral Pigs as Wetland Pest
Feral Pig habits of fouling, wallowing and rooting degrade wetlands and can lead to erosion, pollution of watercourses and the disturbance of local native plant species. In addition the pigs prey on bird chicks, reptiles and their eggs, frogs, earthworms and other invertebrates. They eat underground fungi, fruit, seeds, roots, tubers, bulbs and plant foliage. They have also been reported to disturb waterbird-breeding colonies in NSW.
Their disturbance provides an opportunity for weed invasion and reduces food supplies for native animals. They can also be a vector for disease, eg. foot and mouth disease and compete with stock for drought feed.
Involvement of the Rural Lands Protection Board
Feral pigs are a declared pest under the Rural Lands Protection Act, and the Rural Lands Protection Board is responsible for delivery of this legislation. Working with DPI Agriculture they have developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and Codes of Practice (COP) for the control of feral animals and humane methods of euthanasia. This information is available on http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/.
On private property, feral pig control is the responsibility of the landholder but information and assistance is available from the RLPB. If you are aware of a feral pig problem on your property, in your catchment, or in your LGA you should contact your local RLPB. The RLPB can loan pig traps to private landholders.
The Need for Coordination
Strategic feral pig management programs exist for some regions or wetlands along coastal NSW. Pigs are mobile and cover large territories of up to 50km 2. Coordinating any trapping activities reduces the chance of the pigs moving from a controlled area to an uncontrolled area and building their numbers up again. A coordinated approach is effective across large wetlands or in areas with varying topography.
Existing programs in Northern NSW
In northern NSW an example of a coordinated trapping program is the Newrybar Swamp project near Ballina. This project has been running for ten years and involves a partnership between local landholders, NPWS, the RSPCA and council. Contact either Lisa Wellman of the Department of Environment and Conservation on 6627 0200, or Neil Hing of the Tweed Lismore RLPB on 0402 000 762 for more information.
WetlandCare Australia have another program that targets montane and coastal wetlands in the upper Clarence catchment (Liston to Wilsons Downfall and Barretts Ck to Baryugil) and in the coastal area Evans Head to Iluka. Interested landholders should contact WCA who may be able to deliver traps and feed to attract pigs at no cost to the landholder. In exchange, the landholder must agree to check the traps daily and humanely shoot trapped pigs or negotiate disposal with WCA.
How You Can Help
WetlandCare Australia may seek further funding to work with the community and the RLPB to develop coordinated pig trapping programs, and is interested in hearing about other areas of northern NSW with feral pig problems. For further information contact WetlandCare on 1800 816 147, or Tim Price: timprice@wetlandcare.com.au
Funding programs
Feral pigs have been declared a “key threatening process” by both the NSW and Federal Governments in their environmental legislation. Funding to assist in reducing their numbers may be accessed through a range of state and federal competitive funding programs. Check with your local CMA to determine what funding is currently available if you are interested in establishing a program in your wetland. Issues to consider include the impact of pigs on threatened plants and animals or communities. The RLPB must be consulted for all projects.
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