A COLLABORATIVE NATIONAL STRATEGY TO MANAGE FERAL SWINE IMPACTS IN THE U.S.

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1 A COLLABORATIVE NATIONAL STRATEGY TO MANAGE FERAL SWINE IMPACTS IN THE U.S. Restore America s Estuaries Summit Invasive Species Workshop December 15, 2016 USDA APHIS National Feral Swine Program Wendy Anderson, Asst. Program Manager and Certified Wildlife Biologist

2 Outline History of feral swine in the U.S. Damages and risks caused by feral swine Detailed look at feral swine impacts to wetlands National strategy to manage feral swine Types of control methods Contact information

3 History of Feral Swine in U.S. Swine where first brought into the U.S. in the 1500s by explorers and repeated introductions have occurred since. In the past 20 to 30 years feral swine populations and distribution have greatly expanded due to: Intentional translocations Escapes from fenced farming and hunting operations Breeding with free-ranging domestic pigs Prolific breeding behavior at young age By 2014, Over 6 million feral swine reported in 41 states. Year Number of States with Feral Swine

4 Labeled the World s Worst Invasive Alien Species Feral swine cause damage by: Foraging Rooting Trampling wallowing Damage across all resources: Agriculture and livestock Natural resources, including habitat and wildlife Property, including cultural resources Human and pet health and safety

is the over-turning of soil in search of food items Causes soil disturbance and creates opportunistic habitats

5 How feral swine impact wetlands Wallowing Wallows are muddy, wet areas frequented throughout the hottest part of the day to help maintain body temperature due to the lack of sweat glands Changes water quality Rooting Rooting is the over-turning of soil in search of food items Causes soil disturbance and creates opportunistic habitats for invasive plants Decreases plant cover and alters plant communities Disturbs leaf litter Damages the slopes of ponds

How feral swine impact wetlands Contamination Increases levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in the water source Lowers ph levels

6 How feral swine impact wetlands Contamination Increases levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in the water source Lowers ph levels and dissolved oxygen levels Transmission of pathogens and parasites such as giardia and E. coli Creates breeding grounds for diseasecarrying mosquitos

coli contamination in Plum Creek watershed was worsening 2002 - parts of the watershed did not meet recreational contact water

7 How feral swine impact wetlands Plum Creek Watershed 52 mile long stream running through Hays, Kyle, and Cadwell counties in Texas E. coli contamination in Plum Creek watershed was worsening parts of the watershed did not meet recreational contact water quality standards for E. coli entire watershed did not meet safety standards for bacteria and had high levels of nitrites and phosphorus Bactria levels decreased significantly (about 50%) after conducting a collaborative feral swine removal program

runoff carry increased sediment downstream Sediment settles in streambeds and changes

8 How feral swine impact wetlands Sedimentation High traffic and rooting from feral swine causes erosion and increases suspended solids in ponds and streams Rains and runoff carry increased sediment downstream Sediment settles in streambeds and changes micro-ecosystems by filling in cracks in rocks where invertebrates and other small animals live

9 How feral swine impact wetlands Destabilization/ Erosion Wallowing and rooting along riparian and wetland areas increases erosion and causes embankments to give way Feral swine have even been known to collapse levees and earthen divergences on irrigation channels

How feral swine impact wetlands Competition/Consumption Feral swine consume large quantities of herbaceous vegetation, invertebrates, and other small animals - 3-5% of their body weight daily Creates

10 How feral swine impact wetlands Competition/Consumption Feral swine consume large quantities of herbaceous vegetation, invertebrates, and other small animals - 3-5% of their body weight daily Creates competition with native wildlife This consumption has been linked to 95% declines of understory vegetation in some ecosystems Including vulnerable and rare native plants Understory species (from arthropods to mammals) decline with the absence of the vegetation Creates competition for limited water resources with native wildlife during dry seasons

11 Damage to wetlands puts endangered species at risk

National Strategy to Manage Feral Swine In 2014, USDA s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) began receiving $20 million annually to implement a collaborative, national feral swine

12 National Strategy to Manage Feral Swine In 2014, USDA s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) began receiving $20 million annually to implement a collaborative, national feral swine management program in states where there was a recognized feral swine population. Primary Goal: Minimize damage caused by feral swine to protect agriculture and livestock, natural resources, property, and human health and safety. Accomplished by: 1. Suppressing populations in states where feral swine populations are large and widely distributed 2. Eliminating feral swine in states where populations are low or newly emerging

13 Integrated Approach for Managing Feral Swine Six Program Components: Field Operations Disease & Population Monitoring across State and International Borders Research Planning & Program Monitoring Communication & Outreach Regulatory Actions

National Strategy to Manage Feral Swine Environmental conditions and laws on feral swine vary among states. Need to allow flexibility to manage operational activities at the state level.

14 National Strategy to Manage Feral Swine Environmental conditions and laws on feral swine vary among states. Need to allow flexibility to manage operational activities at the state level. FY15 43 WS state and territorial programs received federal feral swine allocations FY16 Same, except: 4 states (ID, MD, NY, WA) - Detection Status MI - Level 3 to Level 2 FY17 NJ & WI - Detection Status NM - Level 2 to Level 1

15 Management Methods Outreach and Education

16 Management Methods Aerial Surveys edna analysis Scat Detection Dogs Trail Camera Surveys

17 Management Methods Exclusion

18 Trapping Management Methods Take per Method Aerial shooting Trapping Ground shooting Judas Pig Operations Aerial Shooting Snaring Ground Shooting

19 Management Methods Federal Law Interstate movement of domestic or feral swine is prohibited without the proper permits (9 CFR 78.30) State Laws Many states are passing tougher laws on transport, possession, release, or reporting of feral swine 2013 NY illegal to import, breed, introduce into the wild, hunt, trap, or market Eurasian boars 2014 IL illegal to transport, release, or possess feral swine 2015 AL and MS increased fines/charges for illegal transport and release of live feral swine 2016 MO banned hunting of feral swine on state-managed lands 2016 OK created Feral Swine Free Zones to prohibit transport of live feral swine; removal in zone is permitted if immediately reported to the Dept. of Ag 2016 MT mandatory reporting of feral swine presence/sightings; became illegal to import, transport, possess, release, hunt, trap, or kill feral swine Regulations and enforcement Nov. 28, 2016: AL Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Press Release - Conservations Officers Arrested 16 from 3 States (AL, FL, MS) for Transport, Release or Possession of Live Feral Pigs

20 Questions? For more information, please contact me at: Office Visit our website at: Or call USDA-WS to reach your local WS office

A COLLABORATIVE NATIONAL STRATEGY TO MANAGE FERAL SWINE IMPACTS IN THE U.S.

A COLLABORATIVE NATIONAL STRATEGY TO MANAGE FERAL SWINE IMPACTS IN THE U.S. National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting January 31, 2017 USDA APHIS National Feral Swine Program Wendy