B08_-_Scope_of_Work_Aerial_Gunning_2023.pdf

Scope of Work

Aerial Removal of Feral Swine on Overflow NWR

William Whited Deputy Project Leader

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service South Arkansas National Wildlife Refuges

5531 HWY 82W Crossett, AR 71635 870.473.2869

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Introduction Feral swine (Sus scrofa) have been recognized as one of top 100 of the world’s worst invasive alien species on the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD 2014). Feral swine were introduced to the eastern United States from Eurasia by early European settlers as a source of food. Today, this species is widespread through the United States. In the early 1900’s, Eurasian or Russian wild boar were introduced into portions of the U.S. for hunting purposes. As a result of cross-breeding with wild domesticated stock, many hybrid populations now are prevalent throughout the pig’s range.

The United States has seen a recent dramatic increase in the distribution and abundance of feral swine, with distribution doubling in some areas. Feral swine have rapidly spread because they are prolific breeders and are generalist. Releasing feral swine into many areas for hunting purposes, has caused the fastest spread and increase in numbers in recent years. The Service and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) both classify feral swine as a nuisance species. In 2016, the AGFC and Arkansas Refuges prohibited the take of feral swine on public lands in efforts to stop the sport hunting and releasing of feral swine on public lands.

Feral swine within the Complex’s work area in South Arkansas are known to carry diseases, including pseudorabies (Pedersen et. al 2013) and swine brucellosis. They may also carry toxoplasmosis and trichinella (Hill et. al 2014).

Rooting, wallowing, and other feeding activities of feral swine cause serious erosion to levees, river banks, and other riparian areas throughout the Complex. Ecological damage is difficult to quantify;

however, significant evidence exists to suggest the extensive damage to soil stability, plant communities, and native wildlife within the Complex. Feral swine compete for food and cover resources with native wildlife like waterfowl, wild turkey, and deer. Swine interfere with management of habitat for wintering waterfowl and other priority species and damage private agricultural properties near refuge lands. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are often blamed for “harboring” the feral swine that cause these damages to private lands.

Feral Swine control and removal should be a multifaceted approach using all tools and methods available to reduce and possible eliminate them. Currently the refuge staff uses trapping methods and opportunistic shooting to remove feral swine. Other options in the future will include Judas pig techniques, aerial gunning and night operations. This project will focus on feral swine removal by means of aerial gunning using a third-party vendor.

Description of Work The scope of this work will be to remove feral swine using aerial means. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will supply the funds to a contracted vendor for aerial operations. The contractor should provide the means possible to aerially shoot feral swine, pilot, gunners, firearms, ammo, and ground support during the mission. All aerial activities shall comply with all federal and state aviation regulations. FWS will be responsible for pre-baiting, establishing areas of operations, and public enforcement. Before work begins, FWS will notify all adjacent landowners of aerial operations and will provide maps and any pertinent spatial information (i.e. refuge boundary) to the contractor. Because of more favorable conditions and cover type for aerial removal at Overflow NWR, operations under this agreement will include work primarily on Overflow NWR until funds are exhausted.

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Performance Period The resulting contract will be awarded with a Base Period of twelve (12) months, with up to four (4) Option Years, at the discretion of the Government. Due to the nature of the work, weather conditions and flooding can alter plans. Work shall be conducted in late-winter/early-spring during leaf-off, after hunting season, but before spring green-up. In most years this will most likely be February and March.

Therefore, aerial work will be planned for February/March, 2024.

Pricing This will be a Firm-Fixed Price Contract with an All-Inclusive Hourly Rate.

Deliverable The contractor shall provide the means possible to aerially shoot feral swine, pilot, gunners, firearms, ammo, and ground support to successfully complete the mission. The contractor shall survey the entire refuge, focusing the most efficient areas to remove feral swine. The contractor should remove as many feral swine within the allotted period within this contract. The contractor shall provide spatial information of area covered and records of all feral swine euthanized, targeted but not euthanized, and observed but not targeted.