Non-target species including raccoons, deer,
livestock, birds, dogs and others can present
real problems when managing for wild pigs.
Not only can they trigger or damage traps,
non-targets can prolong the overall trapping
process and lead to considerably more effort
and expense than anticipated. One of the easiest
measures to enact is to ferment or “sour”
corn or grain in order to make it less palatable
to non-target species. This practice can save
time and money and also help to minimize the
number of non-target species at your trap
location.
The process of “souring” corn or grain
is relatively simple. Place the desired amount
of bait in a container and then fill the container
with water so that 2-3 inches is covering
the bait. The mixture will then ferment on
its own. Covering the mixture, adding yeast,
as well as placing the container in direct
sunlight will help to accelerate the “souring”
process. This process can take several days
or more, but the bait is properly fermented
when the mixture is bubbling and giving off
a strong, pungent and slightly sweet odor.
Fermenting corn or grain can help to reduce
the number of non-target animals frequenting
your trap site. However, during times of low
resource availability and also in areas where
deer and other non-target species are in high
numbers, additional measures may need to be
taken including trying other types of bait.
Examples of other types of bait commonly used
in wild pig trapping include:
 Milo
 Rice
 Spoiled Produce
 Dry Dog Food
 Ripe Fruit
 And Other Commercial Products & Additives
Though additives such as drink powder, flavored
gelatin, soda, molasses and others can potentially
increase the effectiveness of attracting wild
pigs, be aware that they may also attract
undesired non-target animals.
If you have an issue with non-target bait
consumption when trapping, consider using
a bait type such as fermented corn or grain.
In some cases, the non-target species such
as raccoons may have to be trapped and removed
to lessen their impacts on baits.
For more information about wild pigs, their
impacts, and how to effectively reduce populations,
please visit our website at feralhogs.tamu.edu.
