Going GREEN Sustainability Lecture:
Feral Swine: Challenges and Control
Thursday, February 20⋅7:00 – 8:30pm
HARC (Houston Advanced Research Center)
8801 Gosling Rd, Spring, TX 77381, USA
This lecture is full and no longer accepting registrations.​
​
Feral swine (Sus scrofa) were likely first introduced to Texas by Spanish explorers in the 1600’s. Over the ensuing 300+ years they have expanded to become one of the most destructive invasive species in the State, wreaking ecological havoc, destroying crops and lawns, and costing the State some $400 million in damages annually. The secret to their success is multi-fold: highly intelligent, impressively fecund, and lacking in natural predators. They’re also remarkably adaptable, as more and more residents of urban environments are realizing.
Chris Watts will walk through the history of invasive feral swine in Texas, their ecological and economic impacts, wildlife-human interactions, and urban feral swine management practices and strategies including IPM (Integrated Pest Management).
​
Chris Watts is the Wildlife Damage Management Biologist in the College Station district office of the USDA - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Texas Wildlife Services Program. There he helps private landowners and government entities alike with their nuisance wildlife issues while simultaneously assisting with disease sampling and disease prevention. Chris works in the field mitigating damage and loss related primarily to predators, vultures, aquatic mammals and feral swine.
​
​In partnership with The Woodlands Township​
Walk in the Woods: Feral Hogs in a Suburban Landscape
Wednesday, February 5⋅7:00 – 8:30pm
The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park
6464 Creekside Forest Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77389, USA
​
-
Free and open to the public
-
Registration is required
​
Feral hogs are a growing problem in Texas because of their destructive feeding habits, potential to spread disease, and increasingly expanding population. Impacts are being felt in most areas of Texas including suburban landscapes like The Woodlands.
In this presentation, Dr. Tomecek will provide education on the history of feral hogs in Texas, their environmental and economic impacts, and best practices to homeowners needing to manage damages themselves.
Dr. John Tomecek, Assistant Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, is a leading expert in the State on feral hog biology and control. His agency’s mission is both scientific and educational, providing landowners and governmental bodies with support on the identification, management, and abatement of damages from feral hogs.
Registration is required for this FREE lecture but space is limited - Register today!
​