Nuisance Wild Hogs Being Studied Thanks to GPS Tracking
28
Jan
2016
Wildlife officials situated at a couple East Tennessee national parks are looking to gain new insight into wild hogs through the use of GPS satellite technology for tracking nuisance bears.
Over the years, people who tracked the Great Smoky Mountains National Park wild hogs have been reading the land to figure out where the hogs were. However, now, with the help of modern technology, they are now trying to determine where they are going instead.
New funding has made it possible for the park to put GPS tracking collars on some of these hogs so they will be able to monitor the hogs’ movements better. According to Dana Soehn, park spokesperson, they will get the hogs point location every couple of hours if the animals are moving around inside of the park.
This tracking device is essential now more than it has ever been. Wild hogs are North America’s most prolific large animals says Bill Stiver, park wildlife biologist. They are able to breed at the age of 6 months and have 2 litters a year, producing 3 to 8 piglets.
These feral hogs that roam freely can additionally cause severe environmental damage as they often carry pseudorabies. This is a viral disease that is a huge threat to the commercial swine market, reports the Knoxville News Sentinel.
In 2005, the Smoky Mountain wild hogs tested positive for this disease after which the disease spread like wildfire. The new GPS tracking collars will help to indicate where across the landscape the disease is moving.
This technology will show park rangers where to find the infected pigs, where they are moving and will give them a better idea of how much the disease is spreading. It will enable them to see how close to local agricultural areas this disease is.
Pilot study funding of $18,000 was received through the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian as well as $12,000 from the Tallassee Fund. These funds will help the national park collar six pigs and collect their movements.
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About George Karonis
George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications.
Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence.
Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most.
In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships.
George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.
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