Feral Hogs: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

1. Feral Hogs: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly Forestry on the Grow Conference 2014 Jaret Rushing CEA-Agri Calhoun County

2. Some acknowledgments • Dr. Rebecca McPeake • Blake Sasse • Clint Turnage

3. History Early European Settlers • de Soto • Cortez BLOODLINE?

4. Bloodline

5. Expansion in Arkansas • Settlers regularly let their hogs roam free until livestock fencing laws were implemented in AR in the mid 1900s • Fencing laws ignored in several parts of the state through the 1970s and 1980s. • Escapes of hogs kept as livestock in AR common through the 1970s • 1977 - estimated wild hogs found in 4% of AR and were considered to be declining • Movement and intentional release of hogs by hunters wishing to establish new populations believed common in last 30 years Blake Sasse, 2010

6. Reproductive Characteristics • Gestation? • Triple-3 • Reproduction? • Reproductive rate (12-15 months) • Maturity (8 months old) • Litter Size? • Average (4-8 piglets)

7. Houston, we have a problem!

8. Do I have hogs on my land? Hogs can be very sneaky due to their nature so identifying them on your lands may take a little training and understanding. Feral hogs have the tendency to be nocturnal

9. HOG SIGN

10. Tracks

11. Scat Hog scat Deer scat

12. Wallows/Rubs • Feral hogs lack conventional sweat glands. • Wallows • “Sunburn”

13. Wallows/Rubs Concern • Holes create back road hazards, break field equipment • Soil erosion & sedimentation • Fecal matter found in water supplies, swimming holes • Stunt or girdle trees • Compact soil around tree roots • Impede forest regeneration

14. Other signs

15. Feeding Characteristics • Opportunistically omnivorous • Feral hogs are primarily root and tuber feeders. • ONE OF THE MAJOR BY-PRODUCTS OF FEEDING FOR ROOTS AND TUBERS IS……? ROOTING

16. Rooting can be anywhere and affect any type of land use technique Residential Farm roads Livestock/forage production Row crops Creek/stream banks Forest regeneration

18. Kentucky livestock farmer

19. Calhoun County, AR

20. Other food sources • Roots • Grasses • Forbes • Mast • Insects • Dead Carcasses

21. Agricultural Impacts • Destruction of crops and pasturelands • Transmittal of livestock diseases • Food safety issues (e.g., spinach)

22. Other Concerns • Wildlife competition • Resources • Trespassing issues • Pets

23. Specific wildlife competition issues • Direct competition with wildlife for limited food sources (e.g., acorns) • Competition for habitat and space • Consumption of some game species and species of concern • Spread of invasive plant species

24. Potential benefits?

25. Benefits? Hunting Raising for slaughter Food Monetary gain Viewing/aesthetics

26. Hunting Impacts • Additional recreation opportunity • Food source • Expenditures for equipment & dogs • GPS receivers • ATVs • Hog dogs, collars, training equipment • Some receive income from selling “hog hunts”

27. Public perception ?

28. Arkansas Laws • ACT 1104 of 2013 • Feral hogs are deemed as a “public nuisance” species • Non-game nor domesticated livestock • Transportation in the state is illegal UNLESS; • Transporting to a terminal facility • Once captured by any means, removal (killing) on the spot

29. Control • After maturity, feral hogs have very little natural predators • Prior to maturity, only several carnivores in Arkansas are predacious to feral hogs

30. Control • Depends on your goal • Eradication – complete elimination • Population reduction • Must be significant and sustained • Hog populations that are reduced by up to 70% can return to pre-control levels in less than 3 years if anti-hog measures aren’t sustained • May have to determine some level of “acceptable” damage you’re willing to live with Sasse 2010

31. Control Method • Hunting • Trapping • Castrating

33. Trap Types

34. PEN TRAPS

36. The key to catching hogs in a trap is to have a good door system!

37. Trap Doors – Rooter gate • Recommended option • Set to let hogs in until doors are triggered • “Rooter” option lets hogs continue to push into the trap • Multiple panels lets small hogs in without opening gate enough for others to get out • Expensive Blake Sasse, 2010 Protach

38. Trap Doors – No Door • Cheapest option • Seems to catch as many as those with doors • Can also bend back one of the door panels and tie it to a trip wire so it slams shut when a hog hits it Blake Sasse, 2010

39. Other door types • Guillotine/Slide • Swinging door • Electric/automated • AGFC example

40. Bait • There are several different types of bait to use. • From personal experience “Buck Jam” is a great bait • Corn as well • The recipe is 150 lbs of corn, 8 lbs of sugar, 2-3 packets of yeast and 5-6 packets of strawberry jello.  We seal it in metal drums and let it ferment for about 4 weeks

41. Other tips for trapping • Pre-bait • Bait around the outside of the pen • Utilize more than one trap type • Move traps continually • Utilize different bait types • Be creative, yet honest

42. Creativity without honesty • Santa Cruz Islands • Fort Benning, Georgia

43. Always remember…… If you’re trapping and doing the right thing, your neighbor might not be. So, try to work together!

44. Questions?