How new technology is keeping the feral hog population down

MIDLAND, Texas — Catching and controlling feral hogs isn't easy.

The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Department hopes a new type of trap will do the trick.

Remote triggered traps have become the latest trend in hog wrangling, and they can be operated with a tap of your smartphone.

Taylor County extension agent Steve Estes talked about remote triggered traps that can be used from home while a phone notification can update you on what's biting.

"They use a camera technology to be able to, with the motion detector system be able to turn the system on when there's movement in the trap," Estes said. "That sends a signal to the person operating the trap remotely, usually by the cell phone. They can see what the camera is seeing in the trap and then they can basically push a button and tell the trap to shut the gate"

Sometimes, racoons and deer can accidentally set the trap off and scare away hogs.

This is why many hunters and trappers have begun using night vision and infrared vision to track the hogs movement.

"Those technologies are on the market so people can see and find feral hogs, or they can see them in the dark so they don’t have to use a visible light which could spook the feral pigs," Estes said.

But how do you get the hogs in the traps? The best way is to train them and make them comfortable eating near the traps.

"Basically you leave the trap or gate open for a period of days at a time or even weeks to allow the hogs to go in and feed and feel comfortable going in and out of the trap where there not scared of it," Estes said. "Then once you accomplish that, then you can catch more really."