Feral pigs are one of the most destructive invasive pest animals in New South Wales, causing widespread damage to agricultural land, natural ecosystems, and rural infrastructure. Their rooting behaviour leads to severe soil disturbance, erosion, pasture loss, fence damage, and contamination of water sources. Feral pigs also pose a serious biosecurity and disease risk, with the ability to spread parasites and livestock diseases across large areas due to their mobility and rapid breeding rates.
Under the NSW Biosecurity Act, landholders have a general biosecurity duty to manage and reduce the impacts of pest animals on their land. When left unmanaged, feral pig populations can quickly expand, increasing damage to neighbouring properties and the wider landscape. Effective and timely control is essential to protect livestock, cropping systems, and long‑term land condition.
Successful feral pig control requires a planned, lawful and strategic approach. No single method is effective on its own; instead, professional management programs use a combination of approved control techniques, selected based on property conditions, terrain, pig activity, seasonal factors and landholder objectives.
Licensed feral pest controllers in NSW may utilize best‑practice methods such as:
All control activities are conducted with a strong focus on animal welfare, safety, and regulatory compliance, ensuring operations meet NSW legislative and biosecurity requirements
Feral pigs leave very distinctive ground disturbance, rooting, tracks, wallows, and scats. They are one of the easiest pest species to detect because their impact on the landscape is usually severe and obvious.
This is the hallmark of pig activity.
Pigs root for tubers, grubs, worms, fungi, and crop seed.
Pig tracks are rounded, wide, and blunt, unlike deer which are pointed.
Characteristics:
Look for tracks:
Pig scats vary depending on diet.
Typical features:
Often found:
Pigs wallow to cool down and control parasites.
Signs include:
Wallows are often reused and expand over time.
After wallowing, pigs rub themselves on solid objects.
Look for:
This is a very reliable indicator of regular pig movement.
Pigs are opportunistic predators.
Evidence may include:
This is more common during lambing or drought.
Pigs cause extensive agricultural loss.
Common signs:
Damage is often worst at crop edges or near water.
Pigs create well‑defined paths.
Features:
These are often used repeatedly.
In high‑density areas you may notice:
Not as reliable as physical signs, but useful when spotlighting or thermal scanning.
Engaging professional feral pig management services can help landholders to:
Across New South Wales, effective feral pig control relies on property‑specific management programs rather than one‑off treatments. Each property presents different challenges, and successful outcomes depend on using the right mix of control methods at the right time.
Tailored feral pig management programs ensure landholders receive practical, results‑driven solutions that align with their operational needs, while meeting their responsibilities under NSW biosecurity legislation.