Conservation

Exclusion fences are an effective non-lethal method for managing feral pig populations in Australia. Here are the main ways they help:

Written by

Rod

in

  1. Preventing Access to High-Value Areas: Exclusion fencing is used to protect small, high-value areas such as horticultural crops, intensive livestock operations, and conservation sites. By preventing feral pigs from accessing these areas, exclusion fencing helps mitigate the economic and environmental impacts caused by these animals[1][2].
  2. Reducing Disease Transmission: Exclusion fences are particularly useful in managing the spread of diseases like African Swine Fever (ASF) by reducing contact between domestic and feral pig populations. This is crucial for biosecurity in livestock production settings[2].
  3. Protecting Sensitive Environmental Areas: Fences can be used to safeguard ecologically sensitive areas, such as mound springs and freshwater lagoons, from the destructive activities of feral pigs. This helps preserve biodiversity and maintain the integrity of these habitats[3].
  4. Long-Term Asset Protection: While exclusion fencing requires a significant initial investment, it offers long-term protection for valuable assets by consistently preventing feral pig incursions over many years[1]. This makes it a cost-effective solution in areas where the benefits outweigh the costs.

Overall, exclusion fencing serves as a targeted measure to protect specific areas from feral pig damage, complementing broader population control strategies like baiting and shooting.

Sources
[1] [PDF] Control options in feral pigs: Exclusion fencing – Local Land Services https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1285268/Exclusion-fencing-fact-sheet-FINAL.pdf
[2] Feral pig management in Australia: implications for disease control https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9796028/
[3] Exclusion fencing – PestSmart https://pestsmart.org.au/toolkit-resource/exclusion-fencing/
[4] Feral pig control https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/vertebrate-pests/pest-animals-in-nsw/feral-pigs/feral-pig-control
[5] Feral pig management – Local Land Services – NSW Government https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/help-and-advice/pest-control/vertebrate-pest-animals/feral-pigs
[6] National Code of Practice for the humane control of feral pigs https://pestsmart.org.au/toolkit-resource/code-of-practice-feral-pigs/
[7] Queensland https://feralpigs.com.au/qld/
[8] Integrated feral pig control | Invasive animal management | Biosecurity https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-animals/invasive-animal-management/integrated-feral-pig-control

Related Posts:

More posts