Scottish Feral Pig control – Practitioner Training Day

Forestry and Land Scotland joined colleagues from Nature Scot last week (Friday 21 November) to host a Best Practice training day for wildlife managers involved in feral pig control.

The event - held at FLS’ Fort Augustus office and deer larder - was the latest in an ongoing programme designed to assist land owners and managers in dealing with the problem of feral pigs.  

Scotland has localised populations of feral pigs in Lochaber, Dumfries and Galloway, and in Ross-shire, with rough estimates pitching the feral pig population in Scotland at the low thousands level.

As well as looking at the legalities and best-practice guidance, the session also covered monitoring and reporting, methods of control and equipment, as well as carcass handling.

Tom Cameron, FLS’ North Region Area Wildlife Manager, said;

“Feral pig control is an issue for all land managers in the affected areas across Scotland.

“They are certainly capable of causing significant damage to agricultural land and sensitive habitats – from ploughing fields and gardens to damaging fencing and infrastructure.

“Members of the public should not feed or encourage feral pigs both to minimise encounters with wild animals and to reduce the risk of disease transmission to domesticated pigs.

“Feral pigs are likely to have an increasing impact on our limited resources so it’s imperative that we continue to build on a coordinated approach to managing their numbers.”

FLS’ Portclair Forest, near Fort Augustus, is known to have a number of feral pigs and is currently a European Observation Point for a feral pig density survey being conducted by the Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) National Wildlife Management Centre.

FLS and NatureScot wildlife rangers have also been trained by APHA to take samples from naturally deceased pigs found on public and private land, as well as animals killed in road traffic accidents, that can be tested for African Swine Fever (ASF), a disease that is not yet present in Britain but which is spreading in Europe in recent years.

Louise Farmer, NatureScot Wildlife Management Best Practice Officer, said:

“These Best Practice days have been organised by Wild Deer Best Practice, FLS and NatureScot in response to increasing requests for practical guidance on the control of feral pigs in Scotland.

“Collaborative events such as this provide an important opportunity to exchange knowledge, promote high standards and support consistent, responsible approaches to feral pig control, with a strong focus on the safe and humane use of corral traps. Animal welfare, health and safety and legal compliance are emphasised throughout.

“Our aim is to strengthen skills, improve consistency and support the responsible management of feral pigs across Scotland’s wildlife and land management sector.”

Members of the public have reported encounters with feral pigs but – as far as is known – the animals have not displayed threatening behaviour. Recording sightings online will help build a more comprehensive picture of the range of the animals.

People out walking in areas where pigs are known to be present are advised to remain alert and to keep dogs under close control, particularly in the breeding season and there are likely to be litters. Feral pigs breeding season is at its peak between November and January.

FLS cull season for feral pigs runs from Oct-Feb. So far in 2025 FLS rangers have culled five in it’s north Scotland region, two in Lochaber and two in south Scotland.

Notes to Editors

1. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.
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