Northern Tablelands Local Land Services is unveiling a program to provide landholders with the tools they need to help manage feral animals. The Feral Fighters program is an initiative to strategically target pest animals at a regional scale.

Image - Because the pigs are food stressed it is important to free feed correctly.  It is important to aggregate the pigs to free feeding sites which should be free fed for seven to ten days before poisoning.

Commencing on 1 April and running throughout the month, the feral pig population will be the first target for the program.

Feral Fighters are local landholders who work together in groups to bait and control pest animals. Group baiting strategically targets pest animal populations in a specific geographic location and is an effective way to reduce the rate of re-invasion.

Elli Sinclair, Biosecurity Officer, for Northern Tablelands Local Land Services, is encouraging landholders to join the program to take advantage of the numerous benefits on offer.

“The aim of the program is the mass knockdown of animals. By working together, a wider knockdown of the target species can be achieved,” said Elli.

“The dry conditions are resulting in multiple impacts from pests. Feral pigs are fouling waterways as they congregate around long-term water holes. We are looking to capitalise on the bad seasonal conditions to maximise the impact of the program,” she said.

Northern Tablelands Local Land Services will provide a number of resources to facilitate landholders’ participation in the program. This includes the provision of grain for free feeding and poisoning, as well as loaning pig traps at no cost.

Manager of the Nullamanna Feedlot, Peter Lane, is already on board.

“Nullamanna Feedlot is very pleased to participate in the Feral Fighters program. We have an ongoing problem with feral pigs in the feedlot and surrounding farm. These ferals cause pasture and infrastructure damage as well as being a potential biosecurity risk to the operation as a whole,” said Peter.

“We already undertake control measures with trapping, hunting and shooting being the main methods employed thus far. We have also been participating in aerial control programs. I think it is vital that a coordinated and area wide program approach to the problem of feral pigs will help in keeping numbers under control,” he said.

Feral pig expert Darren Marshall works in Biodiversity and Pest Management with the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee. His research has proven that the knockdown success rate increases the longer free feeding can occur.

“It is important to hit the pigs when they are vulnerable. During the drought the feral pig population is stressed and they are searching for food which provides producers with the perfect opportunity to undertake control,” said Darren.

“Because the pigs are food stressed it is important to free feed correctly. We need to take out 70% of the population to have an impact, so it is important to aggregate the pigs to free feeding sites which should be free fed for seven to ten days before poisoning.”

Elli Sinclair is optimistic that the provision of free grain will enable landholders to participate in the process, further ensuring its success.

“Controlling pigs together and at the same time, vastly increases knockdown rates. Working together is pivotal to the program’s success. I encourage landholders to contact their Biosecurity Officers so they can get on board this highly effective program,” she said.

Landholders must have a current chemical card to participate in the program.

To participate in the program contact your local Biosecurity Officer on 02 6732 8800. Elli Sinclair can be contacted on 0417 654 883.