Hunting Most Efficient Method Of Reducing Boar And Crop Damage

Said the Swiss in a study published in 2004. This study attempted to correlate crop damage to boar the most frequently used boar control measures. It involved 44 hunting territories in Switzerland and measured the effect of the various damage control methods on the amount of mean crop damage over several years. The study included the most common control methods in Switzerland. They are intensive “harvest”, baiting wild pigs in forests to distract them from agricultural areas and make them easier to shoot and building electric fences around crops at risk. The article by Hannes Gisser and Heinz-Ulrich Reyer appeared in The Journal Of Wildlife Management years ago.

The study “showed that only hunting reduced damage by wild boars.” In conclusion the authors state “(B)ecause only hunting seems to clearly reduce wild boar damage, we suggest more emphasis be put on the development and introduction of new harvest models among local hunting teams.”

The findings of this study apparently have not resonated very well with those in charge of controlling wildlife populations in the United States.

Faced with ever increasing boar populations across the United States, many have explored and discussed methods of reducing wild pig populations. Fewer boar means less damage to agricultural lands and crops. Less crop damage makes for happier landowners. Less wild pigs also means less damage to the environment and agricultural infrastructure.

Common wisdom taught in veterinary schools and other educational institutions and passed on from there to government officials mostly revolve around trapping, poisoning, fencing, electro fences and eradicating wild pigs from helicopters. No wonder, local government vets and politician all sound like members of a choir singing from the same score sheet. Outlaw, trap, poison, fence in (or better out), shoot the suckers from helicopters.

Experience shows that trapping and poisoning have only limited, temporary effects. The boar get to know the traps and how to avoid them. They will move on to the next property without traps. Poisoning affects many animals other than wild pigs. The smart pigs move on to populate the next county. And then there are the fences. Popular subject in shoat survival class. Fences are great contraptions to practice the art of tunneling and making holes. Keeping fences in good order is time consuming and expensive. The boar will find a way through or around them.

Every single one of these methods is quite costly. Especially when you keep in mind that success is hardly ever complete. A few hardy and smart wild pigs left will quickly repopulate the area once the eradicators have gone on to celebrate their 'success'.

Since everything wild pig nowadays is big business, from collecting access fees from hunters to guide fees to the fees charged by professional boar trappers and hunters, it was only a small step to shooting the critters from helicopters. Though it is expensive, it eliminates the need to cope with difficult terrain, flies, mosquitoes, snakes, thorny and impenetrable bushes. It takes little physical effort to hunt down boar from the comfort of a helicopter.

And it keeps ranchers, helicopter owners, pilots and professional shooters happy.

Recently, some States with expanding boar populations have asked hunters to assist in controlling wild pigs by shooting them on sight during deer season. These programs were surprisingly successful. In light of the Swiss study this should not come as a surprise.

Boar are expanding their range in California as well. Where? On private land where access rights are limited and costly. There are few wild pigs on public land. Is that only because boar habitat is better on private land?

Maybe the Department of Fish and Game should consider ways to involve hunters more in the control of burgeoning wild pig populations in California.

Alternatively, why has nobody thought of putting the pigs on birth control pills provided at bait stations? It worked for pigeons. Why not wild pigs?

PJJ