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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 34(2)

Bait consumption by, and 1080-based control of, feral pigs in the Mediterranean climatic region of south-western Australia

Laurie E. Twigg A B , Tim Lowe A and Gary Martin A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Vertebrate Pest Research Section, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, 100 Bougainvillea Avenue, Forrestfield, WA 6058, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: ltwigg@agric.wa.gov.au

Wildlife Research 34(2) 125-139 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR06084
Submitted: 11 July 2006  Accepted: 19 January 2007   Published: 24 April 2007

Abstract

The consumption of five non-toxic, grain-based baits, and the effectiveness of the preferred baits when treated with 1080 in reducing pig numbers, were determined for feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in several areas in the Mediterranean agricultural region of Western Australia. Fermented wheat with added blood and bone proved an effective attractant for feral pigs, and for determining areas of pig activity. Wheat and malted barley were the preferred baits, there was a variable response to lupins, and commercial pig pellets were consumed least. Malted barley, barley, and wheat treated with 1080 gave good reductions in pig numbers at the localised scale. Where pigs would eat lupins, 1080-treated lupins were usually effective in reducing pig abundance. In some instances, further evidence of feral pig activity was not seen on several sites for several months after poison-baiting occurred. The addition of a small amount of unpoisoned grain to mask the presence of 1080 did not increase the take of treated bait (P < 0.05). Although finding poisoned pigs was difficult owing to the terrain and the presence of bush remnants, the poisoned pigs found (n = 90) were often within 200 m of active bait stations. 1080-poisoned pigs included both adult (≥25 kg) and non-adult pigs of both sexes. Body mass of these pigs ranged from 4 to 90 kg. In all, 42% of poisoned adults found (n = 50) were 50 kg or more. There was minimal evidence of bait take by non-target species, and, where this occurred, it generally involved the consumption of the fermented wheat attractant by kangaroos (Macropus spp.) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Six foxes were known to have been poisoned with 1080-treated grain (4 with malted barley, 2 with wheat). Excluding foxes, no other non-target animals, including native species, were found dead during the intensive searches for poisoned pigs.


Acknowledgements

This work was undertaken with support from the National Feral Animal Control Program, Natural Heritage Trust, Bureau of Rural Sciences. We thank the many people who assisted with this project, particularly the associated landholders. Mike Jones, Peter Nielsen, David Lisle, Craig Robins, Errol Kruger, Ted Knight, Glen Coupar, Simon Merewether and Andrew Woolnough provided valuable assistance with parts of the project. We also thank the Agriculture Protection Board District Officers, many of whom have now retired, for their role in collecting the data for the Donnybrook and Nannup regions. The comments by two anonymous referees improved the paper. This project was approved by the Western Australian Department of Agriculture Animal Research Committee/Animal Experimentation and Ethics Committee # 03FF01.


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