Project Update April 1, 2016 Supports Agency Goals and Annual - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Feral Hog Management Project Update April 1, 2016

Supports Agency Goals and Annual Objectives Generate lasting and recognized improvements to the health and safety of our creeks, rivers, estuaries and bays. 3

Feral Hog Management Project • Two prong approach • Texas A&M AgriLife on landowner training and educational outreach • Dr. Jim Cathey – Associate Department Head and Program Leader • Mark Tyson – Extension Associate • USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services on active feral hog management using a variety of techniques • Michael Bodenchuk – State Director • David Crandall-Wildlife Technician for Bexar and Wilson • Greg Miller – Wildlife Technician for Karnes and Goliad 4

Feral Hog Management Project • Project Started July 1, 2015 • $100,000 Budget • $25,000 AgriLife Grant • $50,000 Wildlife Services Grant (with $50,000 matching from Wildlife Services) • $25,000 Gate Loaner Program with Wildlife Services • Signed the Agreement with USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services on August 17, 2015 • Board approved the agreement with Texas A&M Agrilife on October 10, 2015 5

AgriLife • Feral Hog Workshops • August 13, 2015: Bexar County • 79 participants • Adult Education Economic Impact - $22,474.95 • August 21, 2015: Goliad County • 65 participants • Adult Education Economic Impact - $18,492.05 6

SARA Outreach • October 6, 2015: Presented to Regional Watershed Summit in Karnes County • November 20, 2015: Presented to Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) in Goliad County 7

Additional SARA Outreach • Karnes County Soil and Water Conservation District • Wilson County Soil and Water Conservation District • Goliad County Soil and Water Conservation District • Karnes & Kenedy Rotary Club • Goliad Lion’s Club • Karnes County 2 nd Friday Breakfast • Communities of Karnes Alliance • SARA’s Environmental Advisory Committee • SARA’s Regional Parks Coordinating Council 8

Wildlife Services • October 15, 2015: Two WS technicians were hired • Started training • Plenty of land owner interest, but they wanted to wait until the end of hunting season • Holidays 9

AgriLife • December 18, 2015: Three videos completed “additional funding by the San Antonio River Authority” statement at end of video • Loading wild pigs for transport (359 views) • Fermenting corn or grain for wild pig trapping (259 views) • Reducing non-target species interference while trapping (216 views) • www.youtube.com/user/WFSCAgriLife 10

SARA Outreach • January 8, 2016: Press release • January 20, 2016: Texas Public Radio interview • The Source • Shared on SARA’s Facebook page and the Feral Hog’s Facebook page • February 23 , 2016: KSAT Interview 11

SARA Outreach • January 22, 2016: Postcards 12

AgriLife • AgriLife Feral Hog Workshop • January 29, 2016: Wilson/Karnes counties • 187 participants, mixture of land owners and government officials • Over a dozen landowners expressed interest in being a part of the program 13

Wildlife Services • Currently working with 10 land owners • Private landowners • As the end of February, 333 total hogs have been removed using corral traps 14

Field Photo 15

Gate Loaner Program • Managed by Wildlife Services • Ordering corral supplies • Rooter Gate • Panels • T-posts • Cameras • Will also include T-post drivers and pullers, wire 16

SARA Website 17

January 12-13, 2016: Completed aerial observations 18

Future Goals • AgriLife is working on publications • Wild Pigs Negatively Affect Water Quality • Understanding the Home Ranges of Wild Pigs • Developing more workshops with AgriLife • WS will continue trapping (or use other methodology) • Bexar County, working with Government Canyon State Park 19

Questions? 20