Techniques and approaches for the removal of feral pigs from island and mainland ecosystems

Feral pigs cause considerable damage to island and mainland ecosystems around the world. Eradication efforts can be extremely challenging and may require many years. Some techniques used in removal programs include: trapping, hunting with dogs, ground hunting, aerial shooting, and fencing. Trapping can be very successful when pig densities are high and natural forage is at a minimum. Dogs can be used at any time, but are best used when pig densities are moderate to low, and during the cool wet months of the year. Ground hunting techniques are valuable throughout an entire eradication process because they can be used opportunistically with other techniques and often remove pigs less susceptible to other methods. Aerial shooting can be very effective in certain situations where the terrain permits easy location of animals from the air. Fencing, while expensive, can prove indispensable for pig eradication projects and can be used to contain a population, divide a population, or exclude animals from sensitive areas. The difficulty of performing a pig eradication project can be compounded by logistically challenging aspects of working on an island. However, islands have the distinct advantage of not requiring a perimeter fence, and upon completion, the island will remain pig-free unless pigs are intentionally reintroduced. Mainland pig eradication projects depend entirely on the integrity of a perimeter fence. Therefore, there is a constant threat of pigs becoming reestablished if the fence integrity is compromised. Thus, a perimeter fence must be vigilantly monitored during eradication and indefinitely afterward. A flexible plan with solid financial backing is necessary for any eradication project to be successful. Finally, safety is the number one concern when working in remote field locations and handling firearms