SWINE CONTROL SAFETY: Will toxicants used to control feral 
hogs in Texas have negative effects on other living things 
...find out on Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

When feral hogs ingest sodium nitrite, it reduces their 
blood's ability to carry oxygen.

08 -- We are attempting to exploit that in order to use sodium 
nitrite as a possible control measure in feral swine.
 
Since 2010, TPW biologist, Donnie Frels and colleagues 
have been developing and testing sodium nitrite baits to 
control feral swine. 

12 -- What we're currently doing, is looking at several different 
bait formulations that are hiding the taste of sodium nitrite 
and see which one of those is most effective.

The bait delivery system is one only hogs can access. 
Ironically, sodium nitrite is a compound used to preserve 
sausage and bacon. Although humans and most other 
mammals have an enzyme that effectively reduces 
sodium nitrite toxicity, Frels says he and his colleagues 
are cautious.

14 -- There are still a lot of things we have to investigate when 
it comes to using this as a toxicant. And one is concerns about 
residuals in tissues, secondary consumers, and how long this 
will last in the environment. 

Preliminary results indicate low residuals in hog meat, so 
if a hunter bagged a hog that consumed the toxicant, the 
meat would still be fine to eat.

06 -- Because sodium nitrite is a food preservative, it is safe for 
human consumption. 

It will be several years before the bait is commercially 
available. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 
supports our series. 

For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.

Total sound bite time:		 0:40.0
Maximum Script time:		 0:45.0 Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25