New feral hog publications aim to help landowners thwart growing menace
COLLEGE STATION â€" The Texas AgriLife Extension Service has developed five new feral hog control publications to help landowners corral this growing menace, according to an AgriLife Extension specialist.
(Media-Newswire.com) - COLLEGE STATION – The Texas AgriLife Extension Service has developed five new feral hog control publications to help landowners corral this growing menace, according to an AgriLife Extension specialist. These publications were funded by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through a Clean Water Act § 319( h ) nonpoint source grant. Publications are available online at: http://plumcreek.tamu.edu/feralhogs/ .
These publications specifically target the Plum Creek Watershed in Hays and Caldwell counties, an area especially hard hit by the marauders, but are applicable wherever feral hogs are a problem, said Dr. Jim Cathey, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist at College Station.
Chancey Lewis, AgriLife Extension wildlife assistant at Lockhart and his colleagues developed the new publications. Lewis works closely with landowners in Hays and Caldwell counties, giving instruction and technical guidance on hog trapping, as part of the implementation of the Plum Creek Watershed Protection Plan.
The five publications are:
– “Recognizing Feral Hog Sign,” deals with the evidence or sign the hogs leave in passing. By being able to read sign, Cathey said landowners can learn where the animals are traveling and apply the appropriate management technique to reduce their numbers.
– “Corral Traps for Capturing Feral Hogs,” discusses large traps that Cathey said have proven useful in reducing hog numbers quickly. According to Lewis, feral hogs typically travel in large family groups called “sounders,” and a corral trap can often be used to capture the entire group.
– “Box Traps for Capturing Feral Hogs,” deals with a second option that should be considered after corral traps, Cathey said. While they are not the best choice for removing large hog numbers, box traps, because they are readily movable, can be used to quickly remove small numbers from trouble spots.
– “Snaring Feral Hogs,” offers instructions on placement and handling of snares. Snares are ideal for situations where feral hogs have become wary of box or corral traps. Snares are also much cheaper than traps, according to Lewis.
- "Building a Feral Hog Snare," provides step-by-step instructions for producing snares used for catching feral hogs.
For more information contact Lewis at 979-393-8517 or cdlewis@ag.tamu.edu .
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