SEASONAL PATTERNS IN BAIT CONSUMPTION BY FERAL PIGS (SUS SCROFA) IN THE HILL-COUNTRY OF SOUTH-EASTERN AUSTRALIA

Both fermenting wheat and bran/pollard pellets were readily accepted a s bait throughout the year by feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in Namadgi Natio nal Park, A.C.T. Birds mainly ate wheat bait, particularly during wint er. Other animals occasionally fed on both types of bait, mainly durin g autumn and winter. Covering baits with forest-floor litter did not s ignificantly affect their discovery and consumption by pigs or by othe r animals. The proximity of the pigs to the bait line and their appeti te for bait appeared to be the main factors responsible for seasonal d ifferences in bait consumption. Trail-baiting campaigns against pigs i n similar hill country areas are likely to be more effective during la te autumn than other seasons because more pigs are likely to be close to the traits then and more quickly find and eat greater quantities of bait.