Kin Kin macadamia grower Bruce Maguire says it will take less than two years for the pig fence to pay for itself after loosing up to $20,000 in annual harvest due to feral pigs.
Bruce had been plagued by pigs until he installed 1.8kms of pig proof fencing. The Australian-made wire fencing system that has successfully kept wild pigs out all year.
The interesting part of the ABC Rural article came from the Australian Macadamia Society CEO Jolyon Burnett who said “feral pig control was a joint responsibility”.
“However, the largest landholder of feral-pig affected lands is the state of Queensland, and it would be good to see the department take a more proactive approach and show a little bit more leadership here.
It is the responsibility of individual landowners to control feral pigs on their properties, but councils provide varying levels of support.
Some loan free traps, provide humane euthanasia and disposal of trapped pigs.
A Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson said the department is spending more than $1 million in 2019-20 to reduce the impacts of feral pigs, as part of the agency’s overall integrated pest management programs.
Queensland refuses to look at recreational hunters as one of the tools to eliminating these pig populations.
Gympie Regional Council Land protection officer, Bree Galbraith warned that illegal hunting with dogs on council, state and national park controlled land can simply move on the problem.
“What it tends to do is break up those packs of pigs and make them really cautious, and then it becomes really hard to do anything about those pigs.
“Best practice management of pigs allows the pigs to settle down, be comfortable where they are, so then you can take the appropriate action.”
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