The Department of Environment and Science (DES) has a new weapon in the continuing fight to control feral pigs.
The DES is trialling a high-tech suspended trap, called a Boarbuster, that sits about a metre from the ground.
Ranger in Charge with the DES, Roger James said food was placed in the centre of the trap and monitored remotely by live-streaming video.
Ranger James said when pigs entered the space around the food, a button was pushed and the trap dropped to the ground.
He said feral pigs caused thousands of dollars in damage to walking tracks, roads and mountain bike tracks every year.
“They also eat native plants, destroy pasture and crops, and compete with native animals for water, food and shelter,” Ranger James said.
“Feral pigs are highly intelligent, extremely mobile, and breed quickly with sows able to have up to three litters annually,” he said.
“They are also highly suspicious of many conventional traps, such as corral traps.”
Ranger James said a recent trial in the Baldy Mountain Forest Reserve with the new trap captured 18 pigs at just one site.
“Of the 18 feral pigs we recently trapped, 17 were humanely euthanised and one was fitted with a GPS tracking ear-tag supplied by Barron Catchment Care,” he said.
“The GPS tags will allow QPWS and Barron Catchment Care to gather important data on the pig, including where it travels, how quickly it moves and where it finds food,” Ranger James said.
