Review into feral animal management in NSW

A TECHNICAL review will be undertaken into feral pig and deer management in NSW.

The move follows the announcement of a $40 million investment in feral animal management from the NSW Government, and almost a quarter of a million pigs culled across the state in the past three years.

The control program has been built on increased aerial culling, a free bait initiative, and the promotion of landholders working together to address pests.

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty has now tasked the Independent Biosecurity Commissioner, Dr Katherine Clift, to investigate ways to further improve feral pig and deer management in NSW.
Minister Moriarty will be requesting the Independent Commissioner to consider and recommend actions that will:

● Examine the best available tools and techniques for controlling feral pigs and deer at a regional scale, including new and emerging technologies.

● Work through the challenges of delivering feral pest programs across different landscapes and land tenures

● Increase landholder participation in regional programs, to ensure landholders deliver on their biosecurity duty and improve the success of on-ground management efforts including trapping and baiting.

Preliminary advice will be delivered to the NSW Government in June 2026 and a final report will be delivered in October 2026.

“The NSW Government’s feral pig and pest program is culling more pigs than ever before but there is still more work to be done,” Minister Moriarty said.

“We are supporting landowners to carry out coordinated ground control before and after the aerial shoot, to deliver best practice pest animal management.

“Dr Katherine Clift’s review into our feral pig program is an important next step in making sure we are getting the most out of the program.

“The findings will help refine how public and private land managers work together, ensuring control programs are consistent, practical and responsive to local needs.”

Over the next two months, Local Land Services is planning to undertake another 17 aerial shooting operations in different locations across NSW, targeting feral pigs and other pest animals.

Aerial shooting is a key component of coordinated control programs, that follows months of work being undertaken with primary control measures such as baiting and trapping.

These primary control methods are currently considered the most effective at reducing large feral pig numbers, with aerial shooting used in combination to address any remaining pigs.

Local Land Services helps facilitate broadscale, cross-tenure pest animal control programs across NSW in line with Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plans, working closely with landholders to coordinate control efforts.