LSU AgCenter scientists are working on a sodium nitrite-based bait to kill feral hogs. The bait has a gummy bear-like texture and is shaped into balls.
Scientists with the LSU AgCenter and LSU Department of Chemistry have received a patent for a bait to kill off feral hogs. The bait has the consistency of gummy bears, about the size of a golf ball and it tastes fishy. LSU AgCenter animal specialist Glen Gentry says this is a milestone for them
“It’s going to be used as a tool to help control the population. It’s not something that’s going to eradicate pigs completely,” said Gentry.
There are an estimated one million feral hogs in the state that produce 91 million dollars in damages every year.
Gentry says they are still looking at ways to deliver the bait.
“It’s the first hurdle, so there’s a couple of other hurdles that we have to get over. Right now, we were needing to run field trials,” said Gentry.
Gentry says the bait uses sodium nitrate, which is lethal to feral swine. He says within three hours of consuming the bait, hogs become sleepy and die.
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