Feral pig control measures
Published on 29 October 2019
A report to Rockhampton Regional Council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee today outlined the measures being taken to control the feral pig population.
Chair of Council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee Councillor Ellen Smith said the impact of the feral pigs is absolutely clear to visitors and residents of Mount Archer.
“Feral pigs are unfortunately an ongoing issue in this area, and they cause a lot of problems,” said Cr Smith.
“They uproot seeds, predate on native fauna, destroy vegetation, spread invasive plant species, and can carry infectious diseases.
“This isn’t an issue that is unique to our area either. There are some 24 million feral pigs in Australia, and around 6 million in Queensland.
“The unusually dry weather in our Region at the moment is pushing the pigs closer to residential and recreational areas, including Fraser Park and First Turkey, and a number of residents of Mount Archer have reported that pigs are destroying their gardens.
“Council has been working with Queensland Parks and Wildlife (QPWS) on a joint strategy to control feral pigs, and we have introduced control measures in line with our own Feral Pig Management Plan.
“Work is currently underway by both QPWS and Council to attract feral pigs to designated prefeed areas for easier trapping. Council has also recently installed a trap in Fraser Park, and two traps will be installed in the First Turkey area.
“While we are doing what we can, effectively controlling the feral pig population is something that requires a whole of community response, and we want to urge everyone to do their part.
“We ask that visitors to affected areas are very careful not to leave behind any food scraps that could attract pigs.
“We know that some residents have begun installing fences to not only protect their gardens and compost but also remove this as a food source for the pigs, and we would encourage more households in the area to do the same. If pigs see your yard as a source of food they will continue to return.
“I also want to take this opportunity to commend the Council Officers and agencies working to controlling the feral pig population. This is a difficult and resource intensive task, but we are moving in a positive direction.”