Effectiveness of a Warfarin-Poisoning Campaign Against Feral Pigs, Sus Scrofa, in Namadgi National Park, A.c.t.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop better techniques for controlling feral pigs, Sus scrofa, in the event of an outbreak of an exotic disease than the use of 1080. Trail-baiting with warfarin-treated wheat killed 30 of 32 feral pigs carrying radio transmitters in Namadgi National Park, A.C.T., in May 1986. The casualties took 9.7 ± 0.4 (mean ± s.e.) days to die (range 6-14) and all died within 2.06 km of the bait trail. The two survivors (both males) were radio-located within 339 m of the poison trails several times, but then moved 5.1 and 1.5 km, respectively, out of the trial area. Home ranges averaged 4.7 ± 0.6 km2 (range 0.7-22.6) and the population density was approximately 2 km-2. The pigs' mobility did not alter as death approached. They moved equal distances during the day and the night. Differences in mobility between the sexes were generally minor.