Feral pigs a hazard Down Under

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Volunteers in Australia fighting the feral pig problem are being hindered by illegal breeders and hunters, ABC Rural reports.

Feral pigs are considered an environmental hazard in Western Australia (WA) and pose a risk to agricultural land. According to the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA), feral pigs cause more than $A100M damage every year. But one of the biggest hurdles in controlling the feral pig population comes from people "seeding" – breeding and then releasing feral pigs – for hunting purposes, ABC Rural says. DAFWA biosecurity officer Jason Dearle told ABC Rural that seeding "is adding to their population… and also in turn hinders our management, and property owners' management, throughout the state."

According to ABC Rural, some people are hunting in national parks, damaging native vegetation and wildlife. The state's Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPAW) is campaigning to raise awareness and remind people that hunting on state-owned land is illegal. Hunters here are also causing more problems, as they will sometimes tamper with DPAW traps meant to catch feral pigs. "It makes our trapping not as successful and of course there's a cost to that as well," Parks and Wildlife officer Pia Courtis told ABC Local Radio. BP