How Bad Are Feral Pigs In Australia?

In talking to a lot of people who are anti-guns and against hunting in any form, the main sentiment I hear is "why can't we just leave these animals alone to live their lives. Surely they aren't doing that much damage." The reality is quite the opposite. If we leave these feral animals alone, we eventually won't have any of our own native animals left. In this article we are going to specifically look at feral pigs, the impact they have on our country, and why we need to control their numbers.

Feral pigs in Australia have significant and wide-ranging effects on our environment, agriculture, and native ecosystems. These introduced pests, believed to have been introduced by European settlers in the 18th century, have become a major ecological and agricultural problem. Here are some of the key effects of feral pigs in Australia:

Agricultural Damage

Feral pigs cause substantial damage to agriculture in Australia. They feed on a variety of crops, such as sugarcane, wheat, and vegetables. Their digging behaviour damages soil and can reduce crop yields, leading to economic losses for farmers. A big mob of pigs can easily destroy an acre of crop every night. Just imagine that for a second.

Soil Erosion

Feral pigs are well-known for their digging behaviour, where they use their strong snouts to dig up the soil in search of food. This digging can result in severe soil erosion, which can further degrade our already fragile Australian soils.

Spread of Weeds

Feral pigs contribute to the spread of invasive plant species by eating and dispersing seeds in their crap. This can exacerbate the problem of weed infestations in agricultural areas and natural ecosystems.

Livestock and Disease

Feral pigs can carry diseases such as brucellosis and swine flu, which pose a risk to both domesticated pigs and livestock. Disease transmission can have economic and health consequences for the agricultural industry.

Predation on Native Wildlife

Feral pigs are omnivorous and will prey on native wildlife, including ground-nesting birds, reptiles, and small mammals. They can have a significant impact on native fauna, contributing to the decline of some species. They are particularly bad in the northern parts of Australia where our native turtles nest. The pigs love to dig up and eat their eggs.

Habitat Destruction

Feral pigs can cause habitat destruction through their digging and wallowing activities. They can alter landscapes and negatively affect native vegetation and the habitats of other wildlife.

Water Pollution

Feral pigs crap and piss near water sources, leading to contamination. This pollution can affect water quality and pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems and the availability of clean water for other wildlife and livestock.

Competing with Native Species

Feral pigs compete with native animals for food resources. Their presence can disrupt the balance of native ecosystems, particularly in sensitive areas like wetlands and forests.

Economic Impact

The economic impact of feral pigs in Australia is significant, with estimated annual losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars due to crop damage, control measures, and lost livestock productivity.

Wrapping Up

To address the problems caused by feral pigs, various control measures are employed in Australia, including contract shooting, volunteer hunting, trapping, poisoning, and exclusion fencing. These efforts aim to reduce feral pig populations and mitigate their negative impacts on agriculture and the environment.

In recent years feral pig numbers have exploded as a result of perfect breeding conditions, making it all the more difficult to keep their numbers under control. We all need to do our part to keep their numbers under control.