Feral Pigs

Feral pigs are wild populations of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa). They have been in Australia since early European settlement, originally near towns but now spread across 45% of the mainland. You'll find feral pigs in all states and territories, especially in wetlands, floodplains, woodlands, and agricultural areas with water. They tend to roam in groups (mob sizes range from 10 up to 50 pigs) and are creatures of habit, often returning to the same watering holes, wallows and feeding areas.

Feral pigs are usually smaller and leaner than farm pigs, with coarse hair, long snouts and tusks. They need daily water and shade (they're not heat tolerant), so they shelter in thick scrub or riverbanks during hot days and come out to feed in the cooler hours. Being omnivores, they eat a wide variety of foods. They'll dig up roots and bulbs, graze on pastures, and also prey on small animals or lambs if they can. Signs of feral pigs on your property include rooted-up soil (from their digging), wallows (mud holes), rub marks on trees, footprints, droppings and damaged fences.

Feral pig displaying typical physical characteristics - lean build, coarse hair, and alert posture

Feral pigs cause several issues for farmers and land managers:

• Crop damage and pasture loss: Pigs uproot crops, dig for roots and grubs, and trample paddocks. A mob of pigs can wreck hectares of newly planted field or damage native pastures in a single night. They'll also eat grain, fruit, sugar cane, and almost anything edible, reducing your yields.
• Preying on livestock and wildlife: Although primarily scavengers, feral pigs will attack and eat vulnerable animals. They have been known to prey on newborn lambs or kid goats, and they also threaten ground-nesting birds, turtles, and other wildlife by eating eggs and chicks. This is an added loss to biodiversity alongside farm impacts.
• Infrastructure damage: Pigs frequently break fences (e.g. pushing under or through wires) and foul up water holes and dams by wallowing. They can damage irrigation lines or feeders while rooting around. Repairs cost time and money.
• Disease spread: Feral pigs pose a serious biosecurity risk. They carry endemic diseases like leptospirosis and brucellosis that can infect livestock or people. Even more worrying, if diseases like Foot-and-Mouth Disease or African Swine Fever ever arrive in Australia, feral pigs could spread them rapidly and widely, a huge threat to the livestock industry. To mimimise the spread of disease you should always wear PPE like gloves when handling pig carcasses.

Feral pigs cost Australian agriculture well over $100 million each year in losses. Some sources put it higher (NSW alone estimates ~$50m annual losses in the northwest region). Besides the direct costs, farmers are also legally obligated in most areas to control declared pest animals on their land. So doing nothing isn't really an option as pigs won't magically go away, and both economics and the legislation require control efforts.

Feral pigs in agricultural setting - their rooting behavior causes extensive damage to crops and pastures

Ground shooting refers to shooting feral pigs on foot or from a vehicle (as opposed to from a helicopter). This can be done during the day, but often it's more effective at night when pigs are active and less wary. Traditional ground shooting might involve a farmer or professional shooter with a spotlight and a rifle patrolling paddocks after dark. Modern ground shooting can employ advanced gear like thermal monocular's and scopes or night vision scopes, which allow detection of pigs by their heat signatures even in total darkness, within stubble or in scrub.

Is ground shooting effective? Ground shooting is widely used by landholders, pest controllers, and volunteer shooters. It has some big advantages:

• It's target specific, you are only shooting the pest animals you want to remove, so there's little risk to non target species.
• When done properly, it's a humane control method. A skilled shooter aiming for a head or heart/lung shot can dispatch a pig instantly.
• It's flexible and can be done opportunistically whenever pigs are encountered.
• It can be used in some situations where baiting or aerial shooting isn't possible, such as on smaller farms near towns or when a small number of pigs are holed up in thick vegetation.

However, ground shooting also has limitations:

• It is labour intensive and time consuming. Finding and stalking wild pigs can be hard work.
• By itself, shooting is unlikely to permanently reduce a large pig population. Studies and government guidelines note that hunting alone will not achieve long term population reductions when completed in isolation.
• Pigs can become educated and wary after some are shot at. Survivors learn to avoid spotlight or vehicles.

Because of these factors, ground shooting works best in particular scenarios rather than as a sole solution. It's very useful for small, isolated pig populations or as an excellent follow up or maintenance tool after other controls.

• After a major knockdown: Once an initial reduction of pigs has been achieved (via bait, trapping or aerial shooting), use ground shooting to find and remove the remaining pigs that avoided other methods. Those survivors are often wary and scattered, but with thermal/night vision, a good shooter can help to clean up the remaining pigs.
• For ongoing suppression: Even if you can't do large scale baiting, regular ground shooting can contain the growth. For instance, a farm might have low to moderate pig activity, by culling a few each week or month, you keep the pressure on so they never explode in number.
• In small, contained outbreaks: If you spot a new group of pigs in an area that was previously pig free, a swift response with ground shooting might remove them entirely. Early intervention is key.
• At night and in cooler periods: Ground shooting yields better results at night, especially with thermal gear, since pigs are active and less human shy under darkness when feeding.
• Not during coordinated bait/trap efforts: Avoid ad-hoc shooting if you are in the middle of a baiting or trapping program, as it can interfere.
• As part of neighbor cooperation: Working together increases the impact and prevents just shuffling pigs around.

Finally, always remember the safety aspects: follow firearm laws and basic safety rules on your property. Ensure anyone shooting on your farm is licensed and trustworthy. Feral Up addresses safety by vetting all volunteer shooters (checking licenses, insurance, references, etc.), providing comprehensive training and using GPS tracking during operations.