Feral pigs cause significant economic losses to agriculture by damaging crops, pastures, water holes, fencing and by killing lambs and sheep.
What is a feral pig?
A feral pig can be defined by establishing any or all of the following:
- the pig was born or has lived in the wild
- the pig demonstrates wild and erratic behaviour
- the pig is not domesticated
- the pig has some or all of the following morphological features - long course hair, elongated snout, sloping hindquarters.
There are a number of methods available for the control of feral pigs including, 1080 baiting, trapping, exclusion fencing, aerial and ground shooting. As with any pest control program, a single control method used in isolation may provide limited local control of pig populations; however a coordinated program involving neighbours and utilising multiple control methods will prove more successful over a broader area.
For detailed information on feral pig control methods please speak with your local biosecurity officer or consult the feral pig section of the DPI website (opens in new window).
Fines for transporting or releasing feral pigs
Strict laws are in place to deter people from transporting and releasing live feral pigs. These fines include:
- up to $22,000 for transporting live feral pigs
- up to $5,500 for liberating feral pigs (or any pest animal)
- up to $2,200 for having a live feral pig (or any live pest animal) in your possession.
Authorised officers continually monitor for these illegal practices.
Swine Brucellosis in the North West
This disease has been diagnosed in dogs over the last 12 months in the North West region of NSW.
The latest case reported was a pig dog in the Gunnedah area. It has previously been diagnosed in dogs by veterinarians in the Walgett, Moree, Bingara and Tamworth regions.
To avoid brucellosis infection of yourself and family, practice good hygiene and wear protective clothing.
Other Important precautions include:
- Cover skin cuts and abrasions with water proof bandage and wear latex or nitrile gloves when handling pigs, pig carcasses and infected dogs.
- Take care when gutting pigs, use good lighting when handling pig carcasses.
- Thoroughly wash hands and arms in soapy water after handling pigs or their carcasses.
- Launder contaminated clothing separately from other clothing.
- Keep family away from potentially infected dogs, clothing and gear contaminated through pig hunting.
- Take special care when handling or disposing of reproductive organs or aborted material from animals.
- Don't feed feral pig carcasses to dogs.
For more information on Swine brucellosis:
North West LLS Swine Brucellosis Fact Sheet (581.84kb ) pdf
2015 Aerial Feral Pig Control Program
The North West Local Land Services has been successful in obtaining funding via the Commonwealth Drought Package for the control of pest animals targeting feral pigs.
The objective of the feral pig control program is to assist farmers participating in existing group coordinated feral pig control programs in drought affected areas.
North West Local Land Services will allocate the funding for aerial feral pig control, by an Expression of Interest process.
Therefore all funding will be allocated through a competitive and merit based assessment of applications. Commonwealth Drought funding is only secured for the 2015 program.
Interested parties are encouraged to download,complete and return the attached EOI Template.
Please note : EOI will now be accepted until Close of Business on 13th February 2015
EOI should be adressed to
Team Leader Invasive Species and Plant Health
PO Box 500, TAMWORTH NSW 2340
Or Email: firstname.lastname@example.org