Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) biosecurity manager John Matthews said feral pig activity in the region this year was the highest for 10 years.

Mr Matthews, who is based at Casterton, said it was suspected some of the animals had been introduced recently to build up pig populations for hunting.

He said the pigs had been reported on farmland and private and state forests.

“They are rooting up vegetation in state forests and some of the swamp lands in plantations,” Mr Matthews said.

“Some of the swamp lands are valuable native bird nesting areas,” he said.

Mr Matthews said feral pig activity had been identified in at least 10 locations and the department was undertaking trapping and surveillance activities to control them.

Government staff, plantation owners and local farmers recently worked together to euthanase feral pigs found at a number of sites. 

Mr Matthews said the pigs had been found at locations between Warrnambool and the SA border but specific details of the locations were not being disclosed in a bid to prevent illegal hunting.

“We are unsure of the origin of these new populations but from reports and evidence provided by the public, we suspect they have arrived through importation and illegal release,” he said. 

Prosecutions would be launched against anyone found to have illegally released pigs in the region, Mr Matthews said.

He called on landholders to report any new feral pig sightings to help the control effort. 

“The release of these pigs could have a major impact on Victoria’s agricultural industries, environment and market access,” Mr Mathews said. 

“Any new population of feral pigs also presents additional biosecurity risks should Australia ever have an outbreak of an exotic disease like foot- and-mouth disease or swine fever.

“Feral pigs can act as amplifiers and spread exotic livestock diseases,” he said. 

He said the Victorian Government was committed to maintaining its biosecurity status that supported the state’s access to international and domestic livestock markets. 

“Because of the threat feral pigs pose to Victoria, they are declared as established invasive animals,” Mr Matthews said. 

He said surveillance had been increased to better understand the extent of the problem, the origins of new infestations and prevent the pigs spreading to new areas.