Spring Means Go For Feral Hogs
By: Aaron Sumrall, PhD
Deep in the grey days of winter’s grip, our wild tenants to the land can be struggling to hold on until the light of the green of spring appears. Landscapes of late winter are typically void of substantial quality nutrition, with natural food sources being depleted weeks earlier in most instances. In the fall, areas of high mast production (acorns and pecans) have either been consumed by wildlife or spoiled from high moisture. Wildlife feeders used in hunting have primarily been turned off and removed. In most locations, nutrition has been limited to woody browse for larger species or stored food by squirrels and rodents.
Compounding the nutritional stress on the animals occupying the landscape, most mature females are either bred or lactating. Doe deer are bred from the fall and early winter breeding seasons. Feral hog females are either bred or have given birth in response to reaching breeding conditions from the cornucopia of available fall nutrition. Both bucks and boars are not in peak condition during late winter as a result of extreme physical activity of breeding and fighting. Poorly managed landscapes can compound already depleted nutritional availability.
Spring green-up is the green light of nutrition that all species have been holding on to reach all winter. Feral hogs are known for their prompt response to improving body condition when adequate food becomes available. Feral hog females stressed from late winter poor nutrition quickly turn ravenous on the newly emerging vegetation and introduced food sources. Newly available vegetation is typically highly nutritious resulting in highly nutritious milk for nursing piglets, equating to an increased survivorship of those piglets.
Land managers providing food plots and protein feeders for deer and other desirable wildlife are not exempt from the thievery of feral pigs. Cultivated land for food plots exposes beetles, bugs, worms, and grubs for feral hogs to exploit in addition to the pounds of planted seed. Unprotected protein feeders are merely buffets for feral pigs, eliminating deer and desirable wildlife from utilizing the food source.
Vegetation and introduced agriculture and wildlife plantings and feeders are not the only items on the spring menu for feral hogs. Food habit studies indicate that feral hog diets are largely vegetation representing up to 80-90% of what is consumed by the species. The remaining 10-20% of a feral hog’s diet is composed of animal matter. Most of the animal matter is grubs, worms, and other invertebrates. We must remember that feral hogs are considered opportunistic omnivores, meaning they will take advantage of any food source. If given the opportunity, feral hogs will consume deer fawns. In Texas, feral hogs are considered to be the #2 predator of kid goats and lambs only behind the coyote. Ground nesting birds such as turkeys and quail take it hard on the chin from feral hogs by losing in excess of 70% of egg clutches, according to many research projects across the pig-occupied landscape.
Feral hog management increases efficiency as winter progresses up to spring green up. Reproductive and reconditioning stresses result in feral hogs being very responsive to baits and trapping. This does not mean that removal is going to be a definite outcome. Feral hogs are very smart and responsive to pressure. Some things to always do when trapping pigs are to be consistent and patient. Baiting/conditioning traps at the same time each day will habituate feral hogs to your activity so be consistent with the bait you use and the time of day your baiting. Remain patient; feral hogs do not carry a calendar. Trying to force feral hogs to do what you want them to do is the definition of pressure and will likely drive pigs not to respond to trapping efforts.
Academic research indicates that trapping is the foundation of a sound feral hog removal approach but is not a stand-alone option for complete success. Adaptive management is the appropriate approach to removing feral hogs from your landscape comprehensively. Trapping leads to the charge of removal, incorporating the remaining legal options at appropriate times in the process. Snares should not be used within ¼ mile of trap locations but can be used simultaneously. Gunning should never be used during trapping efforts. Hinting dogs and/or aerial gunning can be highly successful following trapping with the mission of removing the stragglers missed during the trapping process.
Spring green up will signify a torpor in the trapping and management efficiency of feral hogs, so keep an eye on the swelling buds. Your late winter feral hog removal activity will pay out in gold bars when spring is here, and you see those new deer fawns, poults, chicks, kid goats, lambs, and thriving agriculture and food plot stands. Feral hogs will not regulate themselves; your land health and impact from feral hogs are entirely dependent on you.
