'Out of control': Camping photo at tourist spot shows major Aussie problem
Unwanted campsite invaders are creating a nightmare for those visiting the popular Aussie destination.
Invasive threat taking over camping spot on aussie tourist
- Thread starter AR1
- Start date
Feral pigs are becoming an issue for us in a couple of Canadian provinces. For every person I know who is aware of how bad they can be...there's another who is welcoming them as a new hunting opportunity. People are stupid.
Some provincial wildlife "experts" warn the public that pigs are a potential ecological disaster....but then immediately warn against shooting them. According to these brainiacs, shooting some of them educates the remaining pigs, making them more difficult to eliminate in future. People are stupid.
By the way,
AR1
, perhaps you should have considered quoting the news story a little more carefully. The story is about invasive threats taking over an Aussie tourist island; by leaving off the last word, you have given this an entirely different and somewhat disturbing meaning...
Some provincial wildlife "experts" warn the public that pigs are a potential ecological disaster....but then immediately warn against shooting them. According to these brainiacs, shooting some of them educates the remaining pigs, making them more difficult to eliminate in future. People are stupid.
By the way,
AR1
, perhaps you should have considered quoting the news story a little more carefully. The story is about invasive threats taking over an Aussie tourist island; by leaving off the last word, you have given this an entirely different and somewhat disturbing meaning...This issue was also well documented in Florida and Texas, as many as "6 million pigs across 35 states", if memory serves, and how difficult it was to eradicate feral swine.Some provincial wildlife "experts" warn the public that pigs are a potential ecological disaster....but then immediately warn against shooting them. According to these brainiacs, shooting some of them educates the remaining pigs, making them more difficult to eliminate in future. People are stupid.
By the way,
Sorry I don't have much time but did some quick research. Also, cheated and used Uncle GPT to help find the papers themselves. Here si what i got:
Research on adaptive behaviors of feral pigs and wild boars in response to hunting and trapping pressure is a growing area in wildlife management, as these animals are highly intelligent and capable of learned avoidance. Here are some studies and papers that may closely align with your interest in trap avoidance behavior and adaptive responses to hunting and trapping.
- McCann, B. E., Garcelon, D. K. (2008). "Eradication of Feral Pigs from Pinnacles National Monument." Journal of Wildlife Management, 72(5), 1287–1295.
- This study explores techniques for the eradication of feral pigs, with insights into the pigs’ learned behavior to avoid traps, especially after exposure to unsuccessful trapping efforts. It discusses methods to improve trapping efficacy in light of feral pigs’ avoidance strategies.
- Campbell, T. A., Long, D. B. (2009). "Feral Swine Damage and Damage Management in Forested Ecosystems." Forest Ecology and Management, 257(12), 2319–2326.
- This paper addresses damage caused by feral swine in forested areas and includes observations on how feral pigs quickly adapt to evade trapping efforts, particularly in areas with high hunting and trapping pressure. The study also discusses best practices for adapting traps to counter these avoidance behaviors.
- Hanson, L. B., et al. (2009). "Effectiveness of Feral Swine Trap Designs and Size on Trap Avoidance and Efficiency." Wildlife Society Bulletin, 33(1), 311-317.
- This research examines the effectiveness of different trap designs and the learned behaviors of feral pigs that lead to trap avoidance. The study provides insight into how frequently changing trap styles or locations may be necessary to maintain trapping effectiveness.
- Massei, G., Roy, S., & Bunting, R. (2011). "Too Many Hogs? A Review of Methods to Mitigate Impacts by Wild Boar and Feral Hogs in Europe." Mammal Review, 41(1), 65–79.
- This comprehensive review includes discussion on how wild boar and feral hogs exhibit trap-shy behavior, especially when exposed to traps repeatedly. It also covers strategies used in Europe to manage and adapt trapping methods.
- West, B. C., Cooper, A. L., & Armstrong, J. B. (2009). "Managing Wild Pigs: A Technical Guide." Human-Wildlife Interactions Monograph, (1), 1-55.
- This technical guide provides an overview of wild pig management, including sections on behavioral adaptations like trap avoidance and the necessity of varying trapping methods. It emphasizes the importance of using multi-method approaches due to feral pigs’ ability to learn and adapt quickly to traps and hunting pressure.
Another paper, forgot to copy link for citation, showed how feral hogs in areas where hunting was permitted become much more nocturnal and skittish. Low pressure areas saw them become more diurnal and easier to find.
The 'Judas' pig method is starting to be studied a little more and could be interesting to follow. however, at the present, they are unable to ascertain which pig would be most effectively tagged as the traitor. Some remote camera trap surveillance is trying to assess this. Looks like dominant sows may be a good choice.
Sorry, geeked out a bit there. But I enjoy ecology and environmental sciences.
"Learned avoidance" sounds like a fancy name for the type of learning that almost any animal experiences. Why do they make it sound like some kind of swine superpower?
Capturing or killing part of a group leaves one with smarter, more educated ones escaping to become more difficult to eliminate later. Makes sense not to do this....but only if some other action is being taken to address the whole group. I can't find any official information indicating that any kind of trapping or other control mechanism is being used here. So, they don't want to shoot some of the pigs, because that leaves some others running loose and getting smarter....but by not doing anything, they leave all of them running loose and with nothing to worry about.
I've come across wild pigs a half dozen times while hunting; in one instance I saw a pair, in all others there were only single animals. I was able to kill them each time; completely legal in my province, and the most logical approach to the problem. I encourage government wildlife experts to show me the error of my ways.
I am reminded of the Ontario government biologist who was involved with the re-introduction of wild turkeys into that province a few decades ago. The birds had been released into my area and reproduced so quickly that within a few short years we had an open season. I took a bird during that first season, and while dressing it I found a metal tag on it. I contacted the ministry to report this and was eventually transferred to an earnest-sounding young fellow who confirmed that the tag indicated that it was one of the originally released birds. We chatted for awhile about how well the birds had done, and during the conversation he casually mentioned that he had never actually seen a live turkey in the wild.
I will repeat that: the biologist employed by the government to monitor and control the wild turkey re-introduction program had never laid eyes on a live turkey in the wild.
With ministry oversight like that...who needs poachers?
Capturing or killing part of a group leaves one with smarter, more educated ones escaping to become more difficult to eliminate later. Makes sense not to do this....but only if some other action is being taken to address the whole group. I can't find any official information indicating that any kind of trapping or other control mechanism is being used here. So, they don't want to shoot some of the pigs, because that leaves some others running loose and getting smarter....but by not doing anything, they leave all of them running loose and with nothing to worry about.
I've come across wild pigs a half dozen times while hunting; in one instance I saw a pair, in all others there were only single animals. I was able to kill them each time; completely legal in my province, and the most logical approach to the problem. I encourage government wildlife experts to show me the error of my ways.
I am reminded of the Ontario government biologist who was involved with the re-introduction of wild turkeys into that province a few decades ago. The birds had been released into my area and reproduced so quickly that within a few short years we had an open season. I took a bird during that first season, and while dressing it I found a metal tag on it. I contacted the ministry to report this and was eventually transferred to an earnest-sounding young fellow who confirmed that the tag indicated that it was one of the originally released birds. We chatted for awhile about how well the birds had done, and during the conversation he casually mentioned that he had never actually seen a live turkey in the wild.
I will repeat that: the biologist employed by the government to monitor and control the wild turkey re-introduction program had never laid eyes on a live turkey in the wild.
With ministry oversight like that...who needs poachers?
