Status of Wild Pigs in South Carolina Charles Ruth a , Noel Myers b - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Status of Wild Pigs in South Carolina

Life’s Better Outdoors – dnr.sc.gov

Charles Rutha, Noel Myersb, Cory Heatonc, and Jack Mayerd

a South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

b USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services South Carolina c Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service d Savannah River National Laboratory

Status of Wild Pigs in SC

 Present in SC since the 1500s  Recent Status:  In 2019, wild pigs continued to

be found in all 46 South Carolina counties

 In 2018, the statewide wild pig

population was estimated to be approximately 162,591 animals

 This represents the highest

population estimate ever documented in the state

Harvest of Wild Pigs in SC

 Recreational sporthunters

harvested a total of 39,347 wild pigs in 2018, representing a 4 percent increase from the 2017 harvest

 In 2019, USDA Wildlife

Services (WS) continued to conduct targeted removals of wild pigs around the state to reduce damage or augment existing control programs

WS Wild Pig Projects in SC

 With 2018 Farm Bill funding,

WS began two cooperative 3- year pilot projects for wild pig management that will begin in the state in 2020 in:

 Hampton County  Newberry County

 WS has completely eliminated

pigs from North Island and a second island project is being monitored with no pigs being

• bserved for 6 months

USDA WS SCDNR USDA NRCS Newberry SWCD

WS Wild Pig Projects in SC

 With 2018 Farm Bill funding,

WS began two cooperative 3- year pilot projects for wild pig management that will begin in the state in 2020 in:

 Hampton County  Newberry County

 WS has completely eliminated

pigs from North Island and a second island project is being monitored with no pigs being

• bserved for 6 months

USDA WS SCDNR USDA NRCS Newberry SWCD

WS Wild Pig Projects in SC

 Collected damage

assessment data on Congaree National Park to contribute to ongoing research project

 Begun using UASs/drones

to assess wild pig damage

• ver large tracts of land

 Assisted in the research

trials of a new toxicant for wild pigs

 Continued cost-sharing

partnerships with the:

 US Forest Service  National Park Service  SC DNR  SC State Parks  USFWS  Department of Defense

to reduce wild pig problems or augment existing programs in SC

SC Cooperative Efforts

 Formed the multi-agency

South Carolina Wild Hog Task Force in 2010

 Met annually since the

formation of the SCWHTF

 Maintain a website through the

Clemson Extension Service

https://www.clemson.edu/extension/wi ldlife/wildhogs/

 Continuing to conduct public

and agency workshops and seminars around the state

• SC USDA Wildlife Services
• SCDNR and SCDHEC
• Clemson University
• Savannah River National Laboratory
• SC State Veterinarian
• SC USDA/APHIS Veterinary Services
• SC Farm Bureau
• SC Pork Board & SC Pork Producers
• NPS/Congaree National Park

SC USDA NRCS

• US Forest Service

SC Soil & Water Conservation Districts SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism

SC Cooperative Efforts

 Formed the multi-agency

South Carolina Wild Hog Task Force in 2010

 Met annually since the

formation of the SCWHTF

 Maintain a website through the

Clemson Extension Service

https://www.clemson.edu/extension/wi ldlife/wildhogs/

 Continuing to conduct public

and agency workshops and seminars around the state

• SC USDA Wildlife Services
• SCDNR and SCDHEC
• Clemson University
• Savannah River National Laboratory
• SC State Veterinarian
• SC USDA/APHIS Veterinary Services
• SC Farm Bureau
• SC Pork Board & SC Pork Producers
• NPS/Congaree National Park

SC USDA NRCS

• US Forest Service

SC Soil & Water Conservation Districts SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism

Questions?