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Sow what's the big deal about feral pigs?

As the weather heats up, Peel Harvey Biosecurity Group (PHBG) is urging local landholders to take action against feral pigs. The group is hosting a workshop on this invasive pest to help locals better utilise trapping to control their numbers. 


“Pigs have nearly the same reproductive capability as rabbits,” said PHBG Executive Officer Teele Hooper-Worrell. “It’s incredibly important that landholders facing a pig problem maintain their control efforts, especially now, as early summer is a critical time for managing their populations. Trapping is far more effective in reducing impact than ad hoc shooting and can be used to complement current feral pig control activities.”

Pigs are true omnivores and feral animals and will even prey on livestock, particularly newborn lambs. They also eat crops and pasture and can damage large areas of productive crops very quickly. This voracious feeding not only results in direct losses for farmers but also leads to significant damage to native landscapes, where their rooting and foraging activities disrupt fragile ecosystems.

Additionally, feral pigs can carry dangerous diseases, such as swine influenza (‘pig flu’),  that can affect both livestock and humans. This makes them a further risk to agricultural health and community safety.

The PHBG workshop on November 13 will be hands-on, with Licensed Pest Management Technician Andy Lockey teaching landholders to set up a simple but effective ‘Figure 6’ trap. Participants will not only learn how to build the trap, but also about best practice for pig trapping and where and when to trap them.

“We’re here to equip our local landholders with the knowledge and tools they can use to manage feral pig populations effectively,” said Teele. “By working together, we can protect Peel-Harvey’s agricultural assets as well as preserve our native environments from the impacts of invasive species.”

Landholders interested in attending the PHBG workshop are encouraged to visit our website at PHBG.org for more information and to register.

For media enquiries please contact Executive Officer Teele Hooper-Worrel or email  executive@phbg.org, Monday - Thursday 10am - 4pm. 

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