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The use of fixed large panel or mesh traps for the live capture of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) is a common method used in Australia.
Prior to trapping, free feeding of non-toxic bait is offered at sites where pigs are active. After selecting a suitable site, a trap is then erected and free feeding is continued for a number of days before the trap is set. After pigs have been caught they are shot whilst still inside the trap.
Good trapping techniques should enable whole groups of pigs to be caught at one time with minimal impact on non-target animals.
This National Standard Operating Procedure (NATSOP) is a guide only; it does not replace or override the relevant state or territory legislation. The NATSOP should only be used subject to the applicable legal requirements (including WHS) operating in the relevant jurisdiction.
Individual NATSOPs should be read in conjunction with the overarching Code of Practice for feral pig. This is to help ensure that the most appropriate control techniques are selected and that they are deployed in a strategic way, usually in combination with other control techniques, to achieve rapid and sustained reduction of feral pig populations and impacts.
Application
Trapping should only be used in a strategic manner as part of a coordinated program designed to achieve sustained effective control.
Trapping is effective for reducing numbers of feral pigs in areas where poisoning cannot safely be used or when pig populations are relatively low. It is often used as a follow-up control method after initial reduction of high-density pig populations.
It is successful as a control technique when food resources are limited.
Maintenance of traps is time consuming. Therefore, it is only suitable to use traps in situations where the operator has time to check them on a daily basis. Remote field cameras may be used to monitor for feral pig presence in traps and alert operators so that remotely activated traps can be deployed, and trapped animals can be readily and humanely dispatched.
Shooting of pigs should only be performed by skilled operators who have the necessary experience with firearms and who hold the appropriate licences and accreditation. Storage and transportation of firearms and ammunition must comply with relevant legislation requirements.
Animal welfare implications
Target animals
Traps should be set up at sites where vegetation can provide shade and shelter. Pigs have poor thermoregulation and can suffer greatly when exposed to extremes of heat and cold.
Free feeding of non-toxic bait is essential for effective trapping as it increases the proportion of feral pigs in the area encountering and learning to enter the trap. Free feeding also trains additional pigs to enter the trap after the first few pigs have been caught and the trap door is activated.
Free feeding also helps identify suitable trap sites and allows early identification of non- target interference.
To minimise the possibility of dehydration and heat or cold stress, all set traps must be inspected daily.
Trapping must not be conducted during extremes of weather; however, shade cloth or hessian can be used to provide some protection if the weather changes unexpectedly.
The trap should be constructed in a way so as not to cause injury from loose wire, sharp edges or malfunctioning gates.
Captured animals must be approached carefully and quietly to reduce panic, further stress and risk of injury.
Trapped pigs must be destroyed by shooting as quickly and humanely as possible.
If lactating sows are caught in a trap without their young, efforts should be made to find dependent piglets and kill them quickly and humanely.
Animals that are significantly injured during the activation of dropdown gates must be euthanised as soon as possible to prevent pain and suffering.
Non-target animals
Traps are designed for the capture of feral pigs and so pose only a small risk of capturing other species. Use of a pig-specific gate trip mechanism minimises the risk of catching some species e.g., wallabies. Placement of a steel post across a funnel trap entrance at a height of 1 metre above the ground will prevent cattle from entering.
Live non-target animals caught in traps must be examined for injuries and signs of illness or distress and dealt with as follows:
Animals which are unharmed or have only received minimal injuries such as minor cuts or abrasions should be immediately released at the site of capture.
Animals which have more severe injuries or which are suffering from thermal stress should receive appropriate attention. An animal suffering from thermal stress can initially be placed in a suitable quiet holding area which provides warmth or shade, as appropriate, to allow recovery before release. Where animals have injuries that may be treatable, immediate advice should be sought from a veterinarian or a registered wildlife carer for treatment.
Animals that have injuries which are untreatable or which would compromise their survival in the wild should be euthanased using a technique that is suitable for the species. For more information on euthanasia techniques refer to NATSOP-GEN001 National Standard Operating Procedure: Methods of Euthanasia.
If a trap continually catches non-target animals, an alternative bait attractant could be considered or the trap could be moved to another site where it will have minimal effect on other species.
Workplace health and safety considerations
During construction of traps, operators should be wary of the risks of injury from lifting heavy Leather gloves and eye protection will help prevent injuries from wire, steel panels and hammers.
Firearms are potentially Everyone should stand well behind the shooter when pigs are being shot. A safe line of fire must be chosen to prevent accidents or injury from stray bullets or ricochets.
Care must be taken when handling pig carcasses as they may carry diseases such as leptospirosis, Q fever, Japanese encephalitis (JEV). brucellosis, sparganosis, melioidosis and tuberculosis that can affect humans and other It is recommended that disposable gloves and eye protection are worn when handling carcasses. Routinely wash hands after handling all carcasses. Carcasses can be heavy (>100kg), so care should be taken when lifting/dragging.
Never enter a trap with a live captured adult Feral pigs can be aggressive and will attack, especially in situations when they, or their dependent piglets, are distressed or threatened.
Equipment required
Traps
Several trap designs exist, differing mainly in their gate construction. These include the silo trap, the drop-gate trap, the panel trap and the box All are basically an enclosed area with a one-way gate.
It is best to use steel mesh with a small grid size e.g., 50mm x 75mm or 50mm x A grid larger than this will damage the pigs’ snouts if they charge the mesh.
The minimum height needs to be 5 metres to prevent feral pigs from escaping.
Entrance to the trap can be a funnel entrance, a tripped gate or a pig specific trigger.
Choice of trap design will depend upon habitat, material available and accessibility to site.
Details of trap specifications and construction can be obtained from relevant pest control manuals and guidelines, for example:
Free feed preferences of pigs can vary from area to Current diet will sometimes determine how readily the pigs will accept an alternative food.
Pigs will be more attracted to free feed with a strong odour.
Free feed can include grain (e.g., wheat, oats, barley or sorghum) or commercial pellets but is usually driven by local availability. Grain can be soaked in water (fermented) with molasses added as an attractant). Vegetables and fruit can also be used.
It is illegal in Australia to use mammalian product e.g., meat portions or carcasses, as free feed or as bait in traps due to the risk of transmitting disease through swill feeding.
A permit can be obtained from the relevant Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) to use mammal products for the purposes of baiting. Under these circumstances the CVO would need to be satisfied that the mammal product being used does not constitute a disease risk. Please refer to relevant state and territory legislation and regulations.
Large amounts of free feeding will be required; around 10-20 kg each time the trap is set.
Automated pig-specific feeders can also be utilised to attract and habituate feral pigs to a control site whilst reducing the number of visits required when free feeding.
Firearms and ammunition
Smaller calibre rifles with hollow/soft point ammunition may be adequate for euthanasia of pigs using a head shot at short range (within 5 metres). .22 calibre rimfire rifles are an example of ‘smaller calibre rifles’ that are suitable for shooting pigs in traps.
12-gauge shotguns may also be used with shot sizes of SG or SSG for large pigs over 40kg, and BB or AAA cartridges for small pigs less than 40 kg.
Shooters must check ballistic charts for the specifications for the combination of firearm and ammunition they want to use.
The accuracy and precision of rifles should be tested against inanimate targets prior to the commencement of any shooting operation.
Firearms fitted with red dot scopes or laser pointers can assist with accurate shot placement.
Although pigs are comparatively large animals, the vital areas targeted for clean killing are small.
Procedures
Selection of trap sites
Free feeding should be undertaken at sites where pigs are active, for example, near watering points, holes in fences, wallow areas or sites of recent damage to crops. This helps to retain pigs in the area and will give an indication of the most suitable trap site. Leave 5 to 10 kgs of grain or pellets at each selected site. If necessary a short (5-10m) trail of bait can be used to lure pigs to a chosen trap site.
Cease any activity in the area that will disturb normal feeding behaviour e.g., shooting or use of dogs.
If possible, choose a site that is in a shady area with as much natural vegetation as possible.
Placing the trap
Build the trap at a site where bait is being regularly taken.
Place fresh bait both inside and outside the trap to keep pigs feeding for 1 to 2 days.
Once the pigs have become accustomed to the trap and are still regularly feeding, only place bait inside the trap. Keep feeding until all pigs within a group are going into the trap to feed before it is actually set. This may take 1 to 2 weeks. A camera trap is recommended to determine that all group members are entering the trap.
Setting the trap
Once bait is being taken inside the trap, set each evening and check the following day, preferably in the morning.
Continue to set the trap each evening until no more pigs are caught. A change of bait may be tried to entice more pigs, with free feeding again for 1 to 2 nights before activating the trap.
Traps can be left at permanent sites and reactivated when fresh pig activity is detected or they can be moved to new sites depending on requirements.
Some baits, e.g., grain, may attract Where this happens, lightly cover the bait with vegetation or soil. Night baiting may also reduce bird take. Additionally, grain that has been dyed green (or blue) may help to deter consumption by birds.
Shooting of pigs
Caught pigs should be humanely killed by shooting inside the trap.
Shooting must be conducted to cause sudden and painless death with minimum distress to the animal. Only head shots are acceptable.
The shooter should approach the animals in a calm and quiet manner. To prevent unnecessary agitation of the trapped pigs, other people should keep away from the area until shooting is completed. Park vehicles away from the trap site and keep voices low.
Additional pigs may be located outside the trap and can be shot using the appropriate firearm as per ground shooting.
Direct shot through open top of the trap or with the muzzle of the rifle through the mesh of the trap panel. Do not shoot pigs at a distance through the trap panel. To maximise the impact of the shot and to minimise the risk of misdirection, the range should be as short as possible.
Accuracy is important to achieve a humane death. Shots are more likely to be accurate when the animal is not moving and is looking at the shooter.
A single, accurate shot to the head should ensure instantaneous loss of consciousness and rapid death without resumption of However, if an animal does not appear to be killed by the initial shot, then a further shot (or shots) must be taken to ensure death before targeting further animals.
If small piglets (<5kg) are caught in the trap, it is preferable to shoot the adult pigs first to avoid the piglets being trampled, Ideally, shooters should shoot those animals that are calm and present themselves for an accurate shot first, regardless of size or age. Very small piglets (<5kg) can also be captured by hand and euthanased with a concussive blow to the head once the larger pigs have been shot. The blow should be made using a hammer or other suitable solid heavy object and aimed at the centre of the forehead in the position as for frontal shooting.
Shots must be aimed to destroy the major centres at the back of the brain near the spinal cord. This can be achieved by one of the following methods (see also Figure 1). Figure 1 illustrates ‘shot placement’ rather than aim point. The actual aim point and angle will change depending on where the shooter is standing relative to the animal.
Frontal position
This is the ideal site for shooting The firearm should be aimed at a point midway across the forehead and about 2cm above the level of the eyes. The bullet should be directed in the direction of the tail.
Temporal position
This shot is useful for older pigs and large boars that can have foreheads consisting of thick bones and a ridge that runs down the The firearm is aimed from the side of the head so that the bullet enters the skull at a point midway between the eye and the base of the ear on the same side of the head. The bullet should be directed horizontally into the skull.
Behind the ear
This shot is used for older pigs and large boars that can have foreheads consisting of thick bones and a ridge that runs down the centre. The firearm is aimed at a point behind the ear directed towards the opposite eye.
Once all animals in the trap have been shot, death should be confirmed in each animal by observing a combination of the following:
no heartbeat
no breathing
no corneal reflex (no blinking when the eyeball is touched) which may be checked before entering the trap with a stick or piece of dowel.
no response to a painful stimulus g., a pinch of the ear tip.
If death cannot be verified, a second shot to the head should be taken immediately.
Disposal of carcasses
Carcasses must be removed from the trap and should be disposed of accordingly to minimise disease risks associated with using meat to attract other pigs as discussed above. Carcasses should be buried some distance away from the trap.
For further information about disposal of carcasses in some states and territories refer to:
Head shots (temporal or frontal – as above, or behind the ear -not shown) should be used for shooting feral pigs caught in traps. See text for details.
Note that shooting an animal from above or below the horizontal level as depicted here will influence the direction of the bullet through the body. Adjustment to the point of aim on the external surface of the body may need to be made to ensure that the angled bullet path causes extensive (and therefore fatal) damage to the main organs in the target areas.
References
Animal Health Australia (2015) Operational manual: Destruction of animals (Version 3.2). Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN), Edition 3. Agriculture Ministers’ Forum. Canberra, ACT.
Bengsen A, Gentle M, Mitchell J, Pearson H and Saunders GR (2014) Management and impacts of feral pigs in Australia. Mammal Review44, 135-47.
Blackmore DK et al (1995) The use of a shotgun for the emergency slaughter or euthanasia of large mature pigs. The New Zealand Veterinary Journal 43, 134-137.
Choquenot D, McIlroy J and Korn T (1996) Managing vertebrate pests: pigs. Bureau of Resource Sciences. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. Available at: https://pestsmart.org.au/resources/
Standing Committee on Agriculture and Resource Management Council. Feral Livestock Animals. Destruction or capture, handling and marketing. SCA Technical Report Series No. 34. CSIRO Publishing, Australia. Available at: https://www.publish.csiro.au/ebook/download/pdf/370
The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions manages these documents on behalf of the Environment and Invasives Committee (EIC). The authors of these documents have taken care to validate the accuracy of the information at the time of writing. This information has been prepared with care but it is provided “as is”, without warranty of any kind, to the extent permitted by law.
Connect with Government
It is important to connect with the relevant government authorities to ensure you have the right permits in place prior to undertaking your management program.
In this video below Jason Neville and Paul Meek discuss and demonstrate the use of both a silo mesh or heat-shaped trap and the panel trap for catching feral pigs.
Below is some further additional information on feral pig trapping types and methods
Trap types
Panel, silo and box traps are the different types of traps currently available. A panel trap is a series of weldmesh panels wired together and supported with steel posts at the corners and panel centres. The size and shape of the panel trap can be changed by removing or adding panels so that rocks and stumps are avoided. Panel traps are relatively easy to construct, dismantle and transport.
A silo trap is built from a continuous mesh and is stronger than the panel trap while being flexible enough to prevent pigs from climbing out or breaking the mesh.
Silo traps are more suitable for semi-permanent trap sites because they are more difficult to construct, dismantle and transport than the other designs.
A box trap is portable and designed to fit onto the back of a standard 4WD tray back. It is particularly useful on smaller properties. The easy relocation of box traps makes them ideal for feral pig control, as seasonal movement of pigs caused by changing food availability means that traps often need to be moved to where the pigs are. Steel posts used at the corners of the box trap also prevent pigs from lifting the trap.
Trapping methods
Trapping is a process, not an event. Trapping success depends on several key components such as timing, location, bait material and free feeding. Trapping is most successful when alternative food resources are limited. An ideal trapping site is in the vicinity of recent pig activity, which tends to be in shaded areas of thick cover close to a water source. Trap sites should also be accessible by vehicle so pest controllers can carry large amounts of bait to the trap.
To maximise the probability of pigs encountering traps, sufficient numbers of traps need to be distributed in a given area. Mitchell recommends that traps be set out in a circuit to make daily checking easy2.
Grain (wheat, oats or barley with molasses or Carasweet® added) is often used as bait material. To improve bait attractiveness to pigs, grain may be soaked in water for at least 3-5 days to ferment. This will produce a strong odour and pigs will be more likely to find the bait. In some jurisdictions (eg Qld), it is illegal to directly feed animal meat or meat by- products to feral pigs. Operators will need to use a large amount of bait each time the trap is set (around 10-20 kg), so it is best to use materials that are readily available at little or no cost (e.g. discarded bananas in North Queensland).
The success of trapping also depends on free-feeding before setting a trap. The goal of free feeding is to accustom pigs to the new food source and attract them to the trap site, and importantly, to get all of the pigs in a group conditioned to entering and leaving the trap unharmed. Some pigs are trap-shy, especially older pigs and pigs that have been previously trapped and released. Usually one to two weeks of free feeding is necessary before the entire group will enter the trap.
Once bait is continually being taken from a site, trap materials should be left for 2-3 days so that pigs become familiar with the smell of the steel mesh. The trap can then be partially erected with the gate open and poisoned bait placed inside the trap. If pigs hesitate to enter the trap at first, some bait material should be placed outside the door or laid in a trail leading to the trap. Aromatic attractants such as vanilla essence, aniseed and creosote or sump oil, can also be added to bait materials. A few different bait types such as bananas, mangoes, pumpkins or rockmelons, can also be used if readily available.
Traps can also be incorporated into existing fence lines to funnel pigs toward the traps. The use of dogs will be counterproductive while trapping because they push pigs away from traps. Human activity at the trap sites should also be kept to a minimum. Ideally, remote cameras should be used to ensure the entire mob is readily feeding from the trap before it is set.
Once traps are set, animal welfare considerations need to be addressed. It is important to inspect them daily to release non-target animals as quickly as possible if they are trapped. Trapped pigs should also be removed as quickly and humanely as possible to prevent dehydration and heat/cold stress. Captured pigs need to be approached in a calm and quiet manner to prevent their unnecessary agitation, panic, stress and risk of injury. When shooting captured pigs inside the trap, only head shots are acceptable. The pig needs to be shot when it is motionless – never shoot when the head is moving. Smaller calibre rifles (e.g. .22 magnum rimfire with hollow/soft point ammunition) are recommended for euthanasia of pigs at short range (<5 m). For large pigs over 40 kg, 12 gauge shotguns may be used with shot sizes of SG or SSG. BB cartridges are suitable for small pigs less than 40 kg. The range should be as short as possible to maximise the impact of the shot and minimise the risk of misdirection. Shooting should only be performed by skilled operators with experience using firearms, and who hold the appropriate licences and accreditation. Firearms users must also comply with relevant legislation requirements for storage and transportation of firearms and ammunition.
The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions manages these documents on behalf of the Environment and Invasives Committee (EIC). The authors of these documents have taken care to validate the accuracy of the information at the time of writing. This information has been prepared with care but it is provided “as is”, without warranty of any kind, to the extent permitted by law.
