Feral pigs

Restricted invasive animal under Queensland’s Biosecurity Act 2014

Originally introduced into Australia for meat, escaped pigs have bred in the wild and become a serious agricultural and environmental pest.

Feral pigs travel widely and quickly, causing widespread damage to our natural and agricultural environments. Digging up soil, native vegetation, pasture and crops, eating native animals and stock, spreading disease and weed seeds as well as damaging fences are usual common signs of pig damage. Wetland and creek bank damage and fouled fresh water are also typical.

Feral pig control is extremely difficult because they breed quickly, can eat almost anything and move vast distances in search for food.  The most successful control programs target a wide area, involve the effort of many people and combine trapping, baiting, shooting and fencing. For further information on how to control feral pigs see the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Feral Pig fact sheet and theDepartment of Environment and Energy’s page on feral pigs.  You can also report feral pig sightings on the FeralPigScan app.