Sodium nitrate—used as a preservative in bacon but not harmful to humans—could be a cost-effective way to control feral hogs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is beginning to test the use of sodium nitrate in order to control the estimated 2 million feral hogs within Texas, reported in an agency release.
Also, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) are looking into the use of sodium nitrate as a toxicant for feral hogs.
Hogs cannot make enough of an enzyme needed to counteract sodium nitrate. If hogs eat enough sodium nitrate at once, their symptoms will be similar to carbon dioxide poisoning. The hogs will become uncoordinated, lose consciousness and die.
Field trials for sodium nitrate could begin in Texas later this year. Feral hogs cause millions of dollars in urban and rural property damage and it is critical to find control solutions.