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.

Efficacy of manufactured PIGOUT® baits for localised control of feral pigs in the semi-arid Queensland rangelands

“…This method has been used in several feral pig poison-baiting studies in the past (McIlroy et al 1989;Saunders et al 1990). In Namadgi National Park, the population decline recorded using radio-transmitters was 94% and was identical to the decline recorded by extensive dung counts (McIlroy et al 1989;Hone 2002).…”

“…This method has been used in several feral pig poison-baiting studies in the past (McIlroy et al 1989;Saunders et al 1990). In Namadgi National Park, the population decline recorded using radio-transmitters was 94% and was identical to the decline recorded by extensive dung counts (McIlroy et al 1989;Hone 2002). Saunders et al (1990) reported a population decline using radio-transmitters of 86% following baiting using fermented grain dosed with warfarin, and speculated that this would have increased to 100% with time since the one surviving feral pig had consumed warfarin.…”

“…Some animals may be susceptible to the high concentrations of sodium fluoroacetate used to poison feral pigs should they eat baits (McIlroy 1983(McIlroy , 1986Martin and Twigg 2002). Many authors have recorded non-target consumption of feral pig baits with various toxins during past research (Hone and Pedersen 1980;McIlroy 1983McIlroy , 1993McIlroy et al 1989). However, reports of thorough population monitoring of non-target species have apparently not been published.…”

Specificity and success of oral-bait delivery to Eurasian wild boar in Mediterranean woodland habitats

“…Along with hunting, live-trapping, and habitat management, control of both wild boar and feral pigs may be achieved through baiting with baits containing poison (McIlroy et al 1989;Saunders et al 1990;Cowled et al 2006;Twigg et al 2007) or contraceptives (Linhart et al 1997). Baiting with oral vaccines is also used for wildlife disease control (Baer 1976;Cross et al 2007).…”

Pseudorabies Virus and Brucella abortus from an Expanding Wild Pig (Sus scrofa) Population in Southern Oklahoma, USA

“…Control strategies should focus on all segments of wild pig populations, including boars, because they range over long distances (McIlroy et al 1989;Stevens 2010). Knowledge about the pathogens that reside in wild pig populations, how pigs traverse the landscape, and how each pathogen is transmissible will allow spatial prioritization of risk zones to facilitate strategic control efforts.…”