Poinciana
Community Development District
Workshop Meeting Agenda

Monday April 29, 2024
3:00 PM

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87047742122 Dial In Number: 646-876-9923
Meeting ID: 870 4774 2122

Roll Call

Presentation by Solivita Conservation and Wildlife Committee on Feral Hogs

Adjournment

Conservation & Wildlife Committee
FERAL HOGS PROJECT 2024

Conservation & Wildlife  Committee
OBJECTIVE
To place a science-based solution before the Solivita community.
Inform the community at large for improved understanding of the nature of the problem and ramifications of a potential solution.

Solivita is located in the middle of the Florida Wildlife Corridor - a statewide network of nearly 18 million acres of connected ecosystems protect and promote wildlife migration and control unlimited development.

FERAL HOGS
The wild hog (Sus scrofa), also called feral hog, feral swine, feral pig, wild boar, wild pig or piney woods rooter.
Invasive species - likely introduced by Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto as early as 1539.
Invasive indicates a new, aggressive species without natural predators, breeding quickly, taking over an area. Native wildlife will not have evolved defenses against the invader and will not be able to compete.

FERAL HOGS
Wild hogs occur in all 67 counties of Florida. Florida’s hog population ranks 5th in the USA (500,000).Natural habitats include oak-cabbage palm hammocks, freshwater marshes, pine flatwoods, and more open agricultural areas.
Experts at the University of Florida report that they will eat almost anything, including dead animals but when natural foods are scarce or inaccessible, hogs will forage on almost any agricultural crop and livestock feed.

90% plant matter (grubs, acorns),.

FERAL HOGS
Wild hogs can be 4 to 6 feet long, weigh 100 to 200 pounds. Although they prefer to run and escape danger, they can be aggressive when they're injured or cornered. They can move with great speed and can cause serious injury with their tusks.
Feral pigs are known to be dangerous to people, traveling in herds with their young. They have been known to be aggressive toward dogs and other pets.

FERAL HOGS
Female hogs become fertile at the age of six (6) months, producing litters of up to twelve (12) piglets every six (6) months.
Hogs are exceptionally intelligent animals, able to recognized danger and avoid areas of danger. Studies have found they're smarter than dogs and even a
3-year-old child!
The meat of a feral hog may be eaten, but you need to harvest and process them safely. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites brucellosis as the main risk to humans.

TODAY’S FERAL HOG PROBLEM IS AN AMERICAN PROBLEM

SOLIVITA HOG CONTROL
Solivita has employed the same established hog trapper for eight (8) years (team 8/12 trappers)
Single traps (23) have been set and trapped hogs are taken offsite to be destroyed.
Trappers hunt/pursue the hogs using dogs.
Current harvest approximately 500 pigs per year.
Periods of drought and hunting season increases numbers.

FLORIDA HUNTING SEASON
Solivita - Zone B
Archery season: Oct 14 – Nov 12
Crossbow season: Oct 14 – Nov 17
Muzzleloading gun season: Nov 18 - Dec 1
Youth deer hunt weekend: Nov 25 - 26
General gun season: Dec 2 – Feb 18

SOLIVITA HOG CONTROL
Hogs cause extensive damage rooting in landscaped areas for acorns and grubs. Last year Solivita over 80,000 sq ft sod torn up during acorn season.
Most sod is not replaced but raked over for regrowth.
Solivita spends approximately $20,000++ per year repairing landscaping in common areas and residences. Solivita also spends $15,000 per year on trapper fees.

SOLIVITA HOG CONTROL

There have been many expressions of outrage by
well intended residents. Some residents feed the pigs and/or go into the woods at night and release hogs from the traps.

	

Solivita is surrounded on three sides by thousands of acres of open, state-owned undeveloped woodland. During hunting season, the pigs escape the danger of the hunters by navigating into Solivita.

Conservation & Wildlife  Committee
In October 2023 the Solivita HOA Conservation & Wildlife Committee accepted the challenge of seeking a fact-based solution.
Research identified two of the most respected subject matter experts and invited them to a high-profile symposium in Solivita.

Conservation & Wildlife  Committee
Two subject matter experts:
Parker Hall, Wildlife Biologist, State Director of the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – Florida
Samantha Wisely, Ph.D. is a professor in the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department at the University of Florida.

The A symposium took place on October 17, 2023. Attendees included:
Bob Monica, C&WC Chair Larry Anson, HOA President
Marie Sepe, HOA Vice President
Rudy Bautista – LCAM, Community Manager Anita Nelson – PCDD Supervisor
Hank Stuart – Landscape Committee Chair
Carl Warren - Maintenance Committee Chair Brad Thompson – Floralawn Manager Members of the C&WC Committee

What we learned

Feral Pigs are very intelligent and difficult to destroy
Due to reproductive biology trapping must focus on the females
Trapped hogs must be immediately destroyed
on site
The use of single traps on this large a property will only produce minimal results.

What we learned
The use of chemical biopesticide Sodium Nitrite bait may be effective but also can have derogatory effect on other wildlife, people, pets.
As of now the are no EPA approved toxicants for feral pigs - poisoning is off the table.

What we learned
The ideal approach is setting large traps that capture large groups of pigs (as many as 30).
These traps are monitored and controlled remotely
by the trapper on a cell phone
Hogs are baited using sour corn
Due to acreage surrounding Solivita multiple traps
are required - moved frequently.

What we learned
A key component is the installation of a fence between the community and the undeveloped areas that are not protected by a fence or street.
Fencing must be solid but can be relatively inexpensive – High-tensile, woven-wire steel mesh with a “fixed knot” fencing 3 – 4 feet in height.
The Solivita area required to be fenced is approximately 21,000 linear feet.
The fence may span property areas controlled by the
HOA, PCDD, PWCDD, Developer and the state.

MARIGOLD

Association of Poinciana Villages Public Works

Where we are now
Parker Hall (at state’s expense) worked with Rudy Bautista to reviewed and analyze the area, providing personnel and a remote-controlled trap.
A large trap was installed in the Davinci Pass area as a test. Results were inconclusive.
It is clear that an area as large as Solivita will require multiple traps (3/6 traps).
No comprehensive level of success can be achieved without the installation of the fence.
Parker Hall advises that with a firm commitment Solivita could rid itself completely of the pigs.

Q & A