Hunted, trapped, but never gone—why landowners are desperate for a solution
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Australia’s vast landscapes are no stranger to environmental challenges, but some threats are more insidious than others.
When a problem is widespread, persistent, and wreaking havoc on both the land and livelihoods, finding an effective solution becomes a pressing concern.
One particularly destructive force has authorities and landowners alike scrambling for answers—yet the scale of the issue may be far greater than many realise.
Australian farmers and landowners had long battled invasive species, but few were as destructive and widespread as feral pigs.
Authorities across the country continued to grapple with the escalating crisis, with biosecurity agencies urging property owners to ramp up their control measures.
Greater Sydney Local Land Services reminded farmers that ‘it’s time to tune-up those traps’ and encouraged them to prepare ahead of the cooler months when trapping was most effective.
‘As we head into autumn and cooler weather, now is the perfect time to dust off those traps and get them into peak working order,’ it stated.
Despite these efforts, many landowners found trapping alone was not enough, with some turning to experienced hunters like Reece Ferant.
A plumber by trade, Reece had grown up hunting feral pigs with his father and spent much of his free time helping farmers control their numbers.
He and his family were able to live rent-free on a property near Bathurst last year, with the arrangement requiring him to keep feral pig populations in check.
‘All I had to do was just keep the pig numbers down…The pig numbers were out of control,’ he shared.
Some pigs in the area weighed between 80 kg and 100 kg, and their presence was devastating for farmers, particularly during lambing season.
‘The farmer was losing a couple of sheep a night, just getting rolled out of their skin…especially around lambing time,’ he explained.
Reece, who often used the pig meat for dog food, was regularly called upon by frustrated property owners in desperate need of assistance.
Speaking after a recent hunt in Goulburn, he described the scale of destruction, saying: ‘They turn up heaps of ground, making it unbearable to drive through paddocks...The damage they do to fences, the damage they do to ground...these pigs are costing them money.’
Ned Makim, president of the Australian Pig Doggers and Hunters Association (APDHA), argued the feral pig problem was significantly worse than reported.
‘The estimation of how many pigs there are in Australia is grossly underdone,’ he said.
Official figures placed the population between three million and 24 million, but hunters believed the real number was at least double that.
In 2024 alone, hunters claimed to have eradicated four million feral pigs, yet the species remained rampant due to their rapid breeding and adaptability.
Makim likened them to rodents, describing them as highly prolific, intelligent, and capable of eating virtually anything.
Feral pigs had spread across Australia, from western Victoria through New South Wales and Queensland, and into the northern regions, with isolated populations even found on offshore islands.
The Federal Department of Agriculture classified them as a ‘serious agricultural pest,’ warning that they competed with native animals for food and consumed everything from plants to small mammals.
Andrew Cox, former CEO of the Invasive Species Council of Australia, compared them to ‘mini-bulldozers’ and backed large-scale culling efforts.
‘They upturn the ground for roots, insects and grubs, so they’re a serious problem for many plants and animals. Like feral horses, they’re ecosystem transformers—they’re highly destructive,’ he previously stated.
Authorities promoted trapping as a key control method but reminded landowners to check traps at least once every 24 hours to prevent unnecessary suffering.
Hunting with dogs remained controversial, yet Reece maintained it was the most effective and humane method.
‘People might think it's inhumane…It ain't like getting starved with no food or water in a trap,’ he said, also pointing out the risks that baiting posed to non-target species.
With feral pigs reproducing at an alarming rate, a permanent solution seemed out of reach, but for hunters like Reece, the work remained both necessary and rewarding.
‘Hunting is the hobby I’ve chosen to keep myself physically and mentally fit and healthy since I had started working and stopped playing rugby,’ he said.
‘It makes it much more enjoyable and rewarding doing it with family and friends especially now raising my own children with my line of hunting dogs and enjoying the sport together.’
In a previous story, we covered how a popular chicken shop’s bold pest control plan took an unexpected and disastrous turn.
While landowners struggle with invasive species in rural areas, even businesses in urban settings aren’t immune to pest problems.
Read on to see how one company’s attempt to tackle the issue went horribly wrong.
With feral pigs wreaking havoc across the country, hunters and landowners are doing what they can to keep the numbers down.
But is enough being done to tackle the problem? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
When a problem is widespread, persistent, and wreaking havoc on both the land and livelihoods, finding an effective solution becomes a pressing concern.
One particularly destructive force has authorities and landowners alike scrambling for answers—yet the scale of the issue may be far greater than many realise.
Australian farmers and landowners had long battled invasive species, but few were as destructive and widespread as feral pigs.
Authorities across the country continued to grapple with the escalating crisis, with biosecurity agencies urging property owners to ramp up their control measures.
Greater Sydney Local Land Services reminded farmers that ‘it’s time to tune-up those traps’ and encouraged them to prepare ahead of the cooler months when trapping was most effective.
Farmers urged to act as the pig crisis grows. Image source: Reece Ferrant
‘As we head into autumn and cooler weather, now is the perfect time to dust off those traps and get them into peak working order,’ it stated.
Despite these efforts, many landowners found trapping alone was not enough, with some turning to experienced hunters like Reece Ferant.
A plumber by trade, Reece had grown up hunting feral pigs with his father and spent much of his free time helping farmers control their numbers.
He and his family were able to live rent-free on a property near Bathurst last year, with the arrangement requiring him to keep feral pig populations in check.
‘All I had to do was just keep the pig numbers down…The pig numbers were out of control,’ he shared.
Some pigs in the area weighed between 80 kg and 100 kg, and their presence was devastating for farmers, particularly during lambing season.
‘The farmer was losing a couple of sheep a night, just getting rolled out of their skin…especially around lambing time,’ he explained.
Reece, who often used the pig meat for dog food, was regularly called upon by frustrated property owners in desperate need of assistance.
Speaking after a recent hunt in Goulburn, he described the scale of destruction, saying: ‘They turn up heaps of ground, making it unbearable to drive through paddocks...The damage they do to fences, the damage they do to ground...these pigs are costing them money.’
Ned Makim, president of the Australian Pig Doggers and Hunters Association (APDHA), argued the feral pig problem was significantly worse than reported.
‘The estimation of how many pigs there are in Australia is grossly underdone,’ he said.
Official figures placed the population between three million and 24 million, but hunters believed the real number was at least double that.
In 2024 alone, hunters claimed to have eradicated four million feral pigs, yet the species remained rampant due to their rapid breeding and adaptability.
Makim likened them to rodents, describing them as highly prolific, intelligent, and capable of eating virtually anything.
Feral pigs had spread across Australia, from western Victoria through New South Wales and Queensland, and into the northern regions, with isolated populations even found on offshore islands.
The Federal Department of Agriculture classified them as a ‘serious agricultural pest,’ warning that they competed with native animals for food and consumed everything from plants to small mammals.
Andrew Cox, former CEO of the Invasive Species Council of Australia, compared them to ‘mini-bulldozers’ and backed large-scale culling efforts.
‘They upturn the ground for roots, insects and grubs, so they’re a serious problem for many plants and animals. Like feral horses, they’re ecosystem transformers—they’re highly destructive,’ he previously stated.
Authorities promoted trapping as a key control method but reminded landowners to check traps at least once every 24 hours to prevent unnecessary suffering.
Hunting with dogs remained controversial, yet Reece maintained it was the most effective and humane method.
‘People might think it's inhumane…It ain't like getting starved with no food or water in a trap,’ he said, also pointing out the risks that baiting posed to non-target species.
With feral pigs reproducing at an alarming rate, a permanent solution seemed out of reach, but for hunters like Reece, the work remained both necessary and rewarding.
‘Hunting is the hobby I’ve chosen to keep myself physically and mentally fit and healthy since I had started working and stopped playing rugby,’ he said.
‘It makes it much more enjoyable and rewarding doing it with family and friends especially now raising my own children with my line of hunting dogs and enjoying the sport together.’
In a previous story, we covered how a popular chicken shop’s bold pest control plan took an unexpected and disastrous turn.
While landowners struggle with invasive species in rural areas, even businesses in urban settings aren’t immune to pest problems.
Read on to see how one company’s attempt to tackle the issue went horribly wrong.
With feral pigs wreaking havoc across the country, hunters and landowners are doing what they can to keep the numbers down.
But is enough being done to tackle the problem? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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