2024-029 Feral Swine Mitigation for Landfill August 2,2024 Report No. 2024-029
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
The control of feral swine at the City of Denton Landfill.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas is home to an estimated 2 million feral swine,
about 50 percent of all the feral swine in the U.S. The population and range of feral swine have
expanded dramatically because they are extremely adaptable animals with a high rate of
reproduction. The damage feral swine cause is significant to the environment, economy, and
human health. Feral swine damage to habitats,predation on wildlife, and disease transmission can
be linked to the decline of nearly 300 native plants and animals in the United States,many of which
are threatened or endangered.
Feral swine can carry harmful organisms and pathogens, which can infect humans. Diseases
carried by feral swine include but are not limited to, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, brucellosis,
tularemia, trichinosis, swine influenza, salmonella, hepatitis, and pathogenic E. coli. Livestock,
pets, and other domestic animals can also be susceptible to many of the pathogens carried by feral
swine. These pathogens are transmitted through direct contact with feral swine or their scat, by
using feeding and watering containers contaminated by feral swine,or by eating raw,infected feral
swine meat, organs, or other tissues. To control the spread of and mitigate the risk of exposure to
disease, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) regulates the movement of live feral
swine. Additionally, State law prohibits feeding feral swine any garbage or waste, including
allowing scavenging from the landfill.12
Other risks posed by feral swine to people include attacks on individuals and collisions with
vehicles. Historically, feral swine have attacked farmers, golfers, hikers, and persons who work
outside.Aggression in feral swine can increase when they associate people with food and improper
waste disposal.
Once feral swine have become established in an area,it is nearly impossible to remove all of them.
However, with a management plan to control of the size of the population, swine damage can be
kept at an acceptable level. In Texas, feral swine are considered free-ranging exotic animals and
may be taken at any time of the year by any legal means.
BACKGROUND:
In 2017 the Solid Waste and Recycling Department (SWR) experienced a significant increase in
the population of feral swine at the City of Denton Landfill (the landfill) and the Pecan Creek
1 Title 4 Texas Administrative Code,Part 2, §55.9(F)
2 Texas Agriculture Code 165.026
August 2,2024 Report No. 2024-029
Water Reclamation Facility (Pecan Creek). Feral swine were rutting the Solid Waste and
Wastewater facilities and the compost operations,destroying many square feet of building frontage
nightly. Additionally, the swine came dangerously close to damaging the working face at the
landfill.
RESOLUTION:
Since 2018, the SWR has been attempting to manage the onsite feral swine population growth at
the landfill and Pecan Creek by contracting specialized vendors. The Denton City Council
approved its first feral swine control contract in 2018 and a second contract in 2020. The second
term contract will end in October of 2024.
Between 2018 and 2020, City contractors trapped and removed an annual average of 150 swine
from the property. Between 2020 to 2022, an annual average of 100 swine were trapped and
removed from the property, and 2022 to date, an annual average of 50 swine were trapped and
removed. SWR has spent approximately$12,000 annually to fund feral swine removal.
In anticipation of the expiration of its current contract, SWR is working to identify and contract
professionals to continue the trapping and removal services. During the most recentrequest for
proposal process, the City received no bids for service.
As an alternative to the City contracting with private sector contractors, the United States
Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspections Service (USDA) provides feral
swine abatement services to local municipalities in north Texas. The USDA Fort Worth District
Office has offered these services at no cost. The program is funded via federal grants.
Under this program, feral swine are captured in a trap approved by the American Veterinary
Medical Association, humanely dispatched/euthanized, and transported to an appropriate disposal
site, which includes the City of Denton Landfill. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspections
Service collects tissue and fluid samples from captured swine to provide data for national disease
surveillance. A significant public outreach program, containing materials and activities to educate
the public about feral swine damage and related activities to prevent or reduce damage, is also
provided as part of this program.
CONCLUSION:
The Solid Waste and Recycling Department recommends contracting with the USDA to assist with
the control of the feral swine population at the landfill and Pecan Creek facilities and, if needed,
extend these services to other, onsite, invasive animals.
STAFF CONTACT:
Brian Boerner
Solid Waste Director
brian.boerner@cityofdenton.com
(940) 349-8001