The estimated 2.6 million feral hogs living in Texas cause big problems. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s 2004 survey found that they cause $2 million in damage to agriculture in the state and landowners spend and additional $7 million to control pig or fix damages. Given that feral hog damage in the U.S. is estimated at $1.5 billion per year, this new method for trapping feral hogs, could be a blessing to producers everywhere.
Pigs are lured to the pen with food. As they go in, the farmer/rancher is notified by a phone text message. The cameras in the pen give him a look at what he’s got in the pen and with a simply push of a button he can close the pen’s gate, trapping the pests inside.
Feral hogs captured in the pens can be held by the landowner for up to 7 days before an inspection of holding facilities is required by the Texas Animal Health Commission. To recoup trapping costs, captured sows can be sold to permitted slaughter facilities. Landowners are also allowed to butcher and process them for home consumption.
Here’s raw footage of the feral hogs and the trap if you’d like to see more:
Video no longer available
