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Texas adds new weapon in battle against feral hogs
Photo courtesy Texas AgriLife Extension Service
Texas farmers will soon have a new weapon in the ongoing war against feral hogs in the Lone Star State—a poisonous bait.
Texas ag commissioner Sid Miller has approved the use of a warfarin-based pesticide, the first toxicant to be listed specifically for use in controlling the feral hog population.
Warfarin is an anticoagulant, used a blood thinner in humans and also in rodent bait. Officials say it is a logical choice for a hog toxicant, because it is effective in swine but requires much higher dosage levels to potentially affect other wildlife populations or livestock. In addition, special feeders engineered for the hogs will be utilized, in order to limit the bait to the feral hog population.
The product, which is called “Kaput Feral Hog Lure”, is classified as a state-limited-use pesticide. It may only be bought and used by a licensed applicator or someone under the direct supervision of a licensed applicator.
The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service is supportive of the use of warfarin for feral hog population control. The Extension Service estimates that feral hogs cause upwards of 52 million dollars of damage to Texas agricultural enterprises each year.
Tags: crop damage, Feral Swine, Texas
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What happens to the birds who eat the dead carcus and other animals. Will they die also. Really a little foresight is much better than hindsight !
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Don’t see this as an effective and cost-effective solution with no ramifications on other wildlife or even humans. Who doesn’t understand that it’s a poison – and as such – would poison the animal that then feeds on the carcass. AND – why waste such good meat??? It could be used to feed both humans and other animals. Hunting would be faster and more humane!
Something definitely has to be done in not just Texas but other states with feral hog issues. The problem is that no amount of warfarin is ever going to be safe for the birds that will be scavenging the dead hogs. Count on there being a high price to pay for vultures & eagles and other animals that keep our fields and prairies clean.