Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

The methods used to remove feral swine include aerial shooting, trapping in large “corral” traps, drop nets, snaring, shooting in the daylight hours, and night shooting with specialized equipment. Each method has its utility as well as limitations. In areas with large connected populations, method selection may be based on the amount of land available for control, attitudes of neighbors towards control, time necessary to successfully implement control, and access to the habitat. Costs of control may be a secondary consideration. However, recognizing the relative cost of control in a metapopulation may assist managers when deciding between two or more equally appropriate methods. Texas Wildlife Services data were examined to determine the success rates and cost per animal removed by the various methods. Utility of each method and implementation strategies are also discussed.