Feral pigs rarely operate on a schedule that makes them easy to catch in the act. Most active between dusk and dawn, they can cause significant damage to crops, pasture, dams and infrastructure overnight — and be back in scrub cover before daylight. Knowing what to look for is the first step in assessing whether you have a pig problem and how serious it is.
Rooting and Digging
This is the most visible and economically damaging sign of pig activity. Pigs root with their snouts and tusks to find bulbs, roots, insect larvae and fallen nuts. The result is upturned soil, pulled-up grass and, in macadamia orchards, disturbed mulch and root zones around trees. Rooting damage can happen rapidly — a mob of 20 pigs can turn over several acres of pasture or a significant run of macadamia rows in a single night.
Wallowing
Pigs thermoregulate by wallowing in mud and water. Look for muddy depressions near dam margins, creek edges and drainage lines. Active wallows will have churned mud and clear pig tracks leading to and from the water source. Wallowing damages dam walls, increases water turbidity, and introduces pathogens including leptospirosis into water systems used by livestock.
Tracks
Pig tracks are distinctive — a cloven hoof with dew claw impressions above and behind the main pad. Unlike cattle, pig tracks are typically more pointed at the front and often show the side-by-side cloven structure clearly. Tracks are most easily found in soft soil along watercourse margins, creek crossings, and dam surrounds. Well-used pig tracks form clear trails through scrub and long grass over time.
Fence Damage
Pigs are strong and persistent. Look for droppers pushed aside, rails bent upward from below, and gates lifted off their hinges. Pigs preferentially use established crossing points — if you find one damaged section of fence, look for others in the same area and on the same fence line.
Trails Through Scrub
Repeated use of the same routes creates distinctive low tunnels through lantana, tall grass and dense understorey. These trails connect water sources to feeding areas and between properties. Once established, they are used consistently — making them reliable predictors of where pigs will be on a given night.
Scat
Pig droppings are cylindrical and can contain evidence of what they have been eating — grass, grain, fruit, invertebrates. Deposits are often found along trails and near fence lines.
What to Do Next
If you find multiple signs — particularly active wallows and recent rooting damage — you have an established pig problem. A thermal survey can confirm numbers and activity patterns before you commit to a control operation, or you can proceed directly to a booked control operation if the signs suggest significant activity. Either way, documenting the damage with photos before control is good practice for your biosecurity and insurance records.