Transcript
- 1. Feral Hogs in Georgia:
Disease, Damage and Control Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division Game Management SectionThe
Department of Natural Resources is an equal opportunity employer and offers
all persons the opportunity to compete and participate in each area of DNR
employment regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, handicap
or other nonmerit factors. DNR Publication State
of Georgia September 2003
- 2. Sonny Perdue, Governor State of Georgia Lonice
C. Barrett Commissioner Georgia Department of Natural Resources Noel
Holcomb, Director Wildlife Resources Division Board of Natural Resources
Walter McNeely, Chairman Brunswick -- Coastal District Bob Rutland, Vice
Chairman Decatur -- Thirteenth District Loyce
Turner, Secretary Valdosta -- First District Willard Lasseter
Moultrie -- Second District Reese Thompson Vidalia -- Third District Jim Tysinger Atlanta -- Fourth District Thomas Wheeler,
Jr. Duluth -- Fifth District Sara Clark Alpharetta -- Sixth District Bill Carruth Hiram -- Seventh District Jim Butler, Jr.
Columbus -- Eighth District Jamie Reynolds, III Greensboro -- Ninth
District Jim Walters Gainesville -- Tenth District Ralph Callaway Pine
Mountain--Eleventh District E. Raybon Anderson
Statesboro -- Twelfth District Walter Hudson Douglasville --
Member-at-large Phyllis Johnson Hazlehurst -- Member-at-large Sally Bethea Atlanta -- Member-at-large Glenn Taylor Atlanta
-- Member-at-large Feral Hogs In Georgia: Disease, Damage and Control
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (WRD)
Game Management Section Authors Kent Kammermeyer,
Senior Wildlife Biologist John Bowers, Senior Wildlife Biologist Bill
Cooper, Wildlife Biologist Dan Forster, WRD Assistant Director Ken Grahl, Regional Game Supervisor Todd Holbrook, Chief,
Game Management Carmen Martin, Senior Wildlife Biologist Scott McDonald,
Senior Wildlife Biologist Nick Nicholson, Senior Wildlife Biologist Mike VanBrackle, Wildlife Biologist Greg Waters, Wildlife
Biologist Photography Kent Kammermeyer Bill
Fletcher Bill Cooper Game Management Offices Region I Armuchee
(706) 295-6041 Region II Gainesville (770) 535-5700 Region III Thomson
(706) 595-4222 Region III Thomson (Augusta) (706) 667-4672 Region IV Fort
Valley (478) 825-6354 Region V Albany (229) 430-4254 Region VI Fitzgerald
(229) 426-5267 Region VII Brunswick (912) 262-3173 Headquarters Social
Circle (770) 918-6416 Acknowledgements We express our appreciation to all
involved WRD personnel for their assistance in reviewing and editing this
booklet. We also thank the WRD Public Affairs Office for booklet
design, layout and editorial input.
- 3. Table of
Contents Feral Hog Facts
..................................................... 1
Introduction............................................................ 1
Identification ................................................. 2
Distribution ................................................... 3
Biology, Reproduction and Behavior............. 3 Feral Swine Distribution
Map ....................... 4 Parasites and Disease
.......................................... 5 Swine Brucellosis
......................................... 5 Pseudorabies
............................................... 6 Damage
.................................................................. 7
Control Methods ................................................... 8 Restrictions
.................................................. 8 Shooting
....................................................... 9 Live Trapping ...............................................
9 Hunting With Dogs ....................................... 11 Fencing
........................................................ 11
Fermented Corn Recipe .............................. 11 1
* It is illegal to stock, move or release any hogs that are not from
disease-free herds or individually tested. * Feral hogs carry serious
diseases that are transmissible to people and domestic animals. * Feral
hogs are non-native invasive pests that compete directly for food and
cover with many species of wildlife including deer, wild turkey and quail. * Hogs can damage habitats resulting
in the elimination of rare or endangered plants and animals. * Hogs can
destroy agricultural crops, including food plots for deer and turkey. *
Hog damage can be controlled by shooting, trapping or through
the use of exclusion fencing. * There is no closed season and no
limit on hogs on private land. Hunting over bait, from a vehicle or at
night with a light over 6 volts is prohibited. A
hunting license is required for all resident hunters 16 years or older
(except on land owned by them or their immediate family residing in the
same household). * Commercial agriculture properties (three or more acres)
experiencing hog damage may qualify for a special hog removal permit. This
permit allows property owners (or those designated by property owners) to
shoot from a vehicle, use a 12-volt light and/or shoot hogs in the
vicinity of baited hog traps. Contact a WRD Regional Game Management
Office for assistance. * Always wear protective
gloves when handling feral hogs or meat. * Always
cook hog meat to a minimum temperature of 170 degrees F and/or freeze at 0
degrees F for a minimum of 20 days. Feral hogs (Sus
scrofa) in Georgia include some nearly pure
Eurasian or Russian wild boar, free-ranging domestic hogs, and all manner
of hybrids between the two extremes. Feral hogs (a term covering all
free-ranging hog combinations) prefer the cover of dense brush for
protection, but also may be found in mature
woodlands and grassy areas. During hot weather they spend much of their
time wallowing in swamps, wetlands, ponds, and streams close to protective
cover. Feral hogs are omnivorous and will eat anything
from grain to carrion. Plant matter constitutes an important part
of their diet. When available, acorns are preferred. They also consume
roots and invertebrates such as centipedes, leeches, earthworms
and crayfish. In certain areas, cultivated crops and row crops make up a
significant portion of their diet. Wild hogs have been
known to travel up to seven miles to feed on agricultural crops
such as corn and soybeans. They also may prey on ground nests, young
wildlife, livestock, and other small vertebrates. FERAL HOG FACTS
INTRODUCTION
- 4. 2
IDENTIFICATION Most feral hogs are domestic hogs which
have escaped into the wild or have been released for hunting purposes and
now are free-ranging (See Map-Page 4). Their size and color vary greatly
and depend upon their domestic breed and their nutrition during
development. The number of generations they have lived in the wild also
seems to influence their appearance. Descendants from stock whose ancestry
has been in the wild for generations or even centuries tend to have the
classic long snouts and lean appearance of the legendary
"razorback" of southern folk culture. Eurasian or Russian Wild
Hogs Pure Eurasian wild hogs (often referred to
as "Russian" boar) differ in appearance from the average feral
hog in Georgia. This wild hog usually has longer legs, a larger head and a longer, flatter snout. Eurasian piglets are
red- dish brown with black longitudinal stripes. As the animals mature,
the stripes disappear and their color changes to gray grizzled or black.
Eurasian hogs generally have longer guard hair and a more distinct mane of
guard hair running from the neck to the base of the tail than the domestic
hog. Eurasian Hog Sow and Young: Hogs can reproduce at six months of age
and can have up to thirteen offspring in one litter. Hybrids Eurasian wild
hogs and hybrids originating from escapees of a Hooper Bald, North
Carolina enclosure in the 1920's subsequently spread into Tennessee and
parts of the North Georgia Mountains. In recent years, the illegal
transportation and stocking of wild hogs statewide has increased
dramatically. As a result, more hybridization has occurred and few
individuals of the pure Eurasian strain are found
in Georgia. However, the hybrid offspring has retained many charac- teristics of the
Eurasian wild hogs. 3 DISTRIBUTION Christopher
Columbus first introduced hogs into the Americas in 1498 dur- ing his exploration of
the West Indies. Hernando DeSoto also brought a
herd of hogs with him on his trip through the southeast in the 1540's.
According to the following narrative from www.floridahistory.com, DeSoto essentially stocked hogs from southwest Georgia
all the way to Augusta. We would speculate that this continued throughout
his expedition in the southeast. "Though hitherto
we have not mentioned that we brought these animals with us, it is true
that DeSoto brought more than three hundred
head, male and female, which multiplied greatly and were exceedingly
useful…If (by now) the Indians have not destroyed them, it is probable
that... there are many of them there today (when this report was published
in 1609), for besides those the gov- ernor gave to the friendly chiefs, many others were
lost along the roads." Hogs spread into interior Georgia and
the Carolinas and eventually became sporadically established in all
southeastern states. Today, feral hogs are report- ed in many counties of Georgia (See Map-Page 4).
BIOLOGY, REPRODUCTION AND BEHAVIOR Adult weight: 100 to
500+ pounds. Very large hogs (500+ pounds) are generally from
domestic stock. Adult height: 3 feet (males are
generally larger than females). Color: Varies from solid black,
gray grizzled black, brown, blond, white or red to spotted or belted.
Feet/Track: Similar to deer tracks, except toes have more round or blunt
tips and often show widely splayed dewclaws. Gestation
period: 115 days. Litter size: Four to eight, but may be as large
as thirteen. Age at first breeding: Six to 10 months.
Number of litters: One or two litters per year. Young may be born at any
time of the year. Social structure: Generally travel in family groups
normally comprised of two or more sows and their young. Adult boars are
generally solitary, only joining a herd to breed.
- 5. 4 5 Wild hogs are susceptible to a variety of important
diseases/parasites in Georgia. Hogs can carry the nematode, Trichinella spiralis, which
causes trichinosis in people. Although rare in Georgia, people can get
trichinosis by consuming undercooked pork containing the parasite. Always
cook pork at a minimum of 170 degrees F. Freezing
meat at 0 degrees F for a minimum of 20 days also destroys this pathogen.
As for diseases, two of the most serious diseases found in Georgia include
swine brucellosis and pseudorabies. Hunters and farmers need to be aware
that wild hogs can transmit these diseases to domestic hogs. Although
these diseases may occur in all parts of Georgia, one or both has been confirmed in over 25 counties to date. Testing
of over 1,800 feral swine in Georgia from 1991 through January 1999
revealed 507 (28 percent) positive for pseudorabies and 73 (4 percent)
positive for swine brucellosis. Swine brucellosis and pseudora-
bies both are transmissible to domestic pigs and
swine brucellosis can be transmitted to people.
Further screening by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study
was ongoing as this publication went to press. SWINE BRUCELLOSIS Swine
brucellosis is caused by a bacterium similar to the brucellosis organism
in cattle. It causes abortions in sows and infertility in boars. Wild hogs
in 10 southeastern states, including some areas of Georgia are infected with swine brucellosis. It can be spread to domestic swine if infected wild hogs
are introduced into or near local herds. Other farm animals are rarely threatened by swine brucellosis, although
cattle can become infected if they are exposed to the afterbirth of
infected wild pigs. Humans can get swine brucellosis through handling
infected tissues of wild pigs. Hunters are at risk when they clean or
process wild hogs and should take the following precautions: 1. Always wear disposable plastic or rubber gloves when
dressing and cleaning wild hogs. Avoid direct skin contact with blood and
reproductive organs. 2. As soon as possible, wash hands with soap and hot
water after dressing wild hogs. 3. Burn or bury gloves and carcass remains
from dressed wild hogs. 4. Cook meat from wild hogs
thoroughly (minimum temperature of 170 degrees F). PARASITES AND
DISEASE
- 6. 7 Damage
caused by feral hogs has been reported in many
Georgia counties. Hogs compete with over 100 species of native wildlife
for important and limited natural food supplies, including hard and soft
mast (especially acorns). The native competitors at risk include high
profile, high demand animals such as deer, wild turkey, quail, black bear and ruffed grouse. Since they compete heavily with
deer, hogs can be extremely detrimental to deer management programs. They
will destroy quail and turkey nests and consume their eggs. In addition to
consuming supplemental feed on some pri- vate intensively managed areas, wildlife feeders often
are damaged or destroyed by feral hogs. Feeding
also can contribute to the spread of diseases among hogs and between hogs
and native wildlife. Hogs also destroy, eliminate
and prevent the re-establishment of valuable native plants and animals
including threatened and endangered species. All of the above reasons are
why hogs are not desired on public lands in
Georgia. On Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), National Forest lands, Army
Corps of Engineers lands, National Wildlife Refuges and other state and
federal properties, hogs are considered an invasive exotic nuisance animal
and their population must be limited and controlled by hunting and in some
cases, trap- ping and sharpshooting. The goal for
most public lands is either elimination or significant population
reduction to the point that there is no measurable impact on the habitat.
Agricultural crops commonly damaged by feral hogs include rice, sorghum,
wheat, corn, soybeans, peanuts, potatoes, watermelon
and cantaloupe. Two of the most common types of damage to crops occur when
hogs root in the fields while consuming and tram- pling
crops. Hog predation on livestock also can be a problem in some localized
areas. Feral hogs can kill and consume lambs and kid goats. Physical
evidence of hog predation is hard to detect because the entire animal may be consumed. If hog predation occurs when kids and
lambs are larger, the entire carcass may be turned inside out, leaving the
hide with little or no flesh except on the head, neck
and hooves. DAMAGE Example of hog damage to field 6
The symptoms of swine brucellosis in humans are not distinctive enough for
a clearcut diagnosis. Most people report
recurring fevers, chills, sweating, weakness, headaches, debilitating pain
in muscles or joints, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Some of these
symptoms can persist for months. People with these symptoms, who have been exposed to wild hogs, should consult their
doctor about swine brucellosis. PSEUDORABIES Another
important disease harbored by wild hogs is pseudorabies. Despite its name this disease is not related to rabies and does not
infect people. It is caused by a herpes virus.
Pseudorabies causes production and economic losses in domestic operations.
Adult feral swine can be silent carriers of pseudorabies and periodically
will shed the virus that causes the disease through the reproductive
tract. Once infected, the hog is a lifetime carrier, and there is no
effective treatment. Pseudorabies can be detected
by blood testing and has been found in 11 states including parts of
Georgia. Pseudorabies can result in a fatal infection for other domestic
animals including cattle, sheep, goats, dogs and
cats. Wild mammals such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, opossums
and small rodents also can be fatally infected. Although people are not at
risk themselves, hunters need to know that their dogs could
become infected by exposure to infected wild hogs or their carcass
remains. Laws govern the control of swine brucellosis and pseudorabies.
Relocating wild pigs that have not been tested
for these diseases is in violation of both state and federal law. It is
important to follow the outlined sanitary handling procedures (page 5) in
this booklet to prevent humans from becoming infected
with swine brucellosis and to make sure that this disease and pseudorabies
do not infect domestic farm animals and native wildlife. Hunters and
farmers need to be aware that wild hogs can transmit diseases to domestic
hogs and humans.
- 7. The most effective method for controlling feral hogs is
a combination of shooting, live trapping and hunting with dogs. All are
legal methods of take in Georgia. There currently are no toxicants or
repellents registered for the control of feral hogs. Electric fencing or
hog wire fencing may have limited application to protect valuable crops or
plants from wild hog damage. The best success comes from a multi-faceted
approach. The USDA Wildlife Services located in Athens (706-546-2020) is a
federal program experienced in the efficient management of hog problems.
They have successfully reduced or eliminated localized hog populations
using the three-pronged approach of shooting first, then trapping and
finishing with dog hunting. As one technique becomes less effective, they
move to the next technique. USDA biologists are available for technical or
operational assistance. RESTRICTIONS Feral hogs are free-ranging, exotic
animals and may be taken on private lands at any
time of the year, by any legal means with no bag limits. Hunting over bait
and hunting from a vehicle are not legal except by special permit.
Commercial agriculture properties (three or more acres) experiencing hog
damage may qualify for a special hog removal permit. This permit allows
property owners (or those designated by property owners) to shoot from a
vehicle, use a 12-volt light and/or shoot hogs in the vicinity of baited
hog traps. Permits will be issued on a case-by-case
basis by the WRD Regional Game Management Office. Permit windows
for use of vehicles and 12-volt lights extends from January 15 to March 15
and May 15 to September 1. Permits for shooting hogs near baited traps are
limited to June 1 to September 1. To hunt hogs, any person 16 years of age
or older must have a current hunting license - except for Georgia residents
hunting on land owned by them or their immediate family residing in the
same household. See current hunting regulations guide (available online at
www.gohuntgeorgia.com or through hunt- ing and
fishing license agents) for WMA and public lands restrictions. Consult
with any WRD Game Management Office (numbers listed at the front of this
booklet) regarding any question about the legal status of feral hogs.
CONTROL METHODS 8 The most effective method for
controlling feral hogs is a combination of shooting, live trapping and
hunting with dogs. 9 SHOOTING Shooting
during daylight hours or at night is an effective control method,
especially if the areas of greatest hog activity are known. Recent data
from hog removal efforts on Ossabaw Island WMA
indicate that hunting/shooting can be more effective than trapping when
both were conducted concurrently. However this may vary on hunting clubs where it is
difficult to exert constant intense hunting pressure. Efficiency of both
trapping and hunting on Ossabaw was nearly equal
in all seasons of the year except fall when both techniques were less
effective due to high mast availability. The feral hogs quickly became
aware of hunting pressure when they were consistently
hunted or shot from the same stands or locations. They often
changed behavior or left the area and became less susceptible to hunting.
A variety of techniques including stand hunting, stalk hunting, changing hours and locations became necessary for effective
control. When shooting became ineffective, other techniques such as
trapping or dog hunting were used. In Georgia, it
is not legal to shoot hogs, deer or wild turkeys
within 200 yards of bait or within sight of bait regardless of distance.
At night a 6-volt, hand held light is legal for hunting hogs. Note: Hog
removal permits allow a 12-volt light and shooting near baited traps (See
page 8). Landowners may seek hog control assistance from interested
hunters or trappers. Many hunters perceive hogs as desirable game. In
fact, hog hunting opportunity is the impetus for the illegal moving and
stocking of hogs. LIVE TRAPPING Live traps are very effective for
capturing feral hogs. Pre-baiting is essential. Pre-baiting is best accomplished using timed spin feeders or other
semi-perma- nent
long-term feeders. There are many trap designs, ranging from single-catch
traps with a drop gate or one-way swing gate to multi-catch traps with
root up doors. An example of a multi-catch trap is shown
on page 10. This trap is con- structed from 2
inch x 2 inch angle iron and stock paneling. The trap
door measures 2 feet x 2 feet and when closed should lie at an
angle of approximate- ly 30 degrees. The
assembled trap measures 10 feet x l0 feet x 5 feet. It may be necessary to
enclose the top of the trap to prevent hogs from escaping. All sides of
the trap, except the gate, may be camouflaged
with brush. If the trap is not secured to trees,
it should be secured to the ground with 24-inch stakes so that the hogs do
not escape by rooting under the sides. Hog traps are available for sale at
www.allseasonsfeeders.com. They oper- ate
through a local distributor - Triple B Farms in Lyons, GA (912- 578-4101).
In addition, White Fencing Co. in Thomasville, GA (850-668-3242) custom
builds hog traps. Other traps may be commercially available.
- 8. 10 HUNTING
WITH DOGS In certain situations, trained dogs may be
used to locate hogs. Dogs should be properly
trained for hog control to lessen the possibility of injury. Hogs
will become particularly wary of dogs after they have been continuously
harassed and other control methods may become necessary. FENCING Fencing is the only guaranteed control measure
available to hog producers. Check with the USDA
Veterinary Services (770-922-7860) for information on proper double
fencing around hog operations to prevent contact between feral and
domestic swine. Excluding feral hogs from valuable crops can be accom- plished using several
types of fencing, including hog wire and electric fence. To be hog proof,
non-electric fences must be made of a net wire or diamond mesh
construction with the spacing of vertical wires of 6 inches or less.
Fences should be at least 36 inches tall and tightly
stretched and, if necessary, buried beneath the ground. Hog proof
fencing is difficult to achieve across terrain with dips and gullies and
these features increase trapping costs substantially. The "Peanut
butter fence" that works for deer exclusion also will work for hogs.
This is a one or two strand electric fence with multicolored high
visibility (1-1˝ inch wide) polytape installed
at 10 to 20 inches above the ground. Before initial use, dab a slurry mix
of peanut butter and cooking oil on the tape at fre-
quent intervals (3-6 feet apart) so that any
initial contact by hogs will result in a memorable shock to the nose or
tongue. For more information and assistance, contact the local WRD Game
Management office (see front of this booklet for phone numbers). FERMENTED
CORN RECIPE: 1. Use large metal trash cans with
re-sealable lid, 40-50 gallon size. 2. Per 150
pounds of corn: Add 8 pounds of sugar. 3. Add 1 to l ˝ packets of yeast.
4. Optional: Add 5 packets of grape, strawberry, or raspberry Jell-O or
Kool Aid for a sweet smell. 5. Add water 3-4" above
corn. Note: Check daily to keep water level to top of corn. 6.
Place trash cans in direct sunlight. During warm weather
corn should properly ferment in 5 to 7 days. 7. Stir daily with shovel to properly mix contents. ® 11 ® Hog traps come in all
shapes and sizes. This photo depicts a flap door portable trap that has
proven successful in South Georgia. When pre-baiting, the trap door is wired open to allow free access to the trap and
bait. Once the hogs become accustomed to entering the trap the door should
be propped open with a stick that is attached to
a screen door spring. The door is opened 18 to 20
inches, and the spring attached with sufficient tension to pull the stick
away from the door when a hog enters the trap. Once an animal has been caught in this trap, other hogs can enter by
pushing open the door. As with other multi-catch traps, a decoy animal in
the trap will aid in attracting other hogs to enter. The trap should be checked daily for ani-
mals. Decoy animals should be
fed and watered as often as necessary. Plain corn, fermented corn
(see recipe page 11), or peanut butter are the preferred baits. Because
hogs have a keen sense of smell, the trap should be
placed upwind of known hog activity areas. Pre-baiting is extremely
important for any long-term successful trapping operation.