By Aston Brown
Greater coordination is required to counter growing feral pig populations on the Southern Downs, landowners have said.
Landowners and experts gathered northwest of Warwick in Massie hall, 1 August, to discuss ways of managing the invasive pests after farmers reported increases in feral pig sightings in the region.
Feral pigs destroy crops, rip up the landscape, damage infrastructure and spread disease, costing an estimated $106.5m worth of damage to Australia’s agriculture sector each year.
Bill Bowen, who organised the meeting, has lived in Massive for 24 years and runs a irrigated cropping and livestock operation. He said recent upticks in pig numbers have wreaked havoc on crops in the area.
“They come through in waves this year, you kill one lot, then another lot comes through, so have been people saying that the pigs are winning,” he said, estimating for every 200 acres of crop, about 10 acres is lost to feral pigs.
He said while pig hunters that use guns and dogs are “commendable”, they aren’t enough to combat the problem, and can be dangerous in populated areas.
“If it’s not coordinated, the pigs just get chased from one place to the other,” he said.
Instead, Bowen is hoping to raise enough support and funds for a helicopter shooting program which is more effective and far safer. “But you can’t just fly over someone’s place and shoot pigs without permission,” he said. “And if there’s enough involved, that will reduce the cost. Hopefully everyone will contribute something, if they realise the potential damage and risk,” he said.
Bowen said helicopter shooting should then be followed by trapping and baiting council programs to “mop up” remaining pigs in an area.
Council runs coordinated feral pig baiting programs, and offers landowners access to a free 1080 baiting services outside of regular baiting periods. If landowners spot feral pigs or wild dogs, deer or rabbits, they can contact council to discuss management options.
Cr Carla Pigeon, who holds the portfolio of feral pest management, did not respond to a request for comment.
