Torres Strait Island man Tyrone Davis is using his innovative trapping system to help protect his and other First Nations’ Country, plants and animals from one of our ‘most destructive pests’ – feral pigs. With an engineering background and growing up in country New South Wales, Tyrone’s understanding of the behaviour of feral pigs, led to ‘Tracker’s Traps’.
“I was building cattle feedlots for dad. It’s a high intensity feeding program in a small area, and you can’t control feral pigs with guns, dogs or poison.”
A set-and-forget solution
“The traps use the animal’s own behaviour to trap itself and create a set and forget system. Then they can be removed.”
“It’s quick to set up, ready within two minutes, and each trap can trap more than 30 pigs at a time.”
The feral pig problem
Feral pigs have a devastating impact on the natural ecosystem, threatening native animals by digging up soil, vegetation, fouling waterways and preying on smaller animals. As well as causing $106.5 million worth of damage to the agricultural sector each year. With an estimated 2–4 million pigs roaming across the nation, the innovative traps are quickly becoming in high demand.
“Feral pigs do a lot of damage to the environment and produce more carbon than a small car.”
“They can destroy a farmer’s crop in a matter of hours, and potentially cost him tens of thousands of dollars in one night alone.”
With no real predator outside of crocodiles in Northern Australia to keep their numbers in check, the feral pig problem can quickly swell.
From backyard prototype to across Australia
Tyrone had created a prototype in his mother’s backyard before a chance meeting with the Deadly Deals team.
“I showed my calculations of the number of pigs in Australia and amount of people that are dealing with problem, highlighting the clear need for the service.”
“Deadly Deals helped get the equipment that I needed to start producing at scale. It helped me with funding to free up some of my money. It really got the ball rolling.”
Tyrone says Deadly Deals was more than just a much-needed financial injection.
“I met a lot of people higher up in government, like the National Parks Director General, that gave me the confidence to keep going.”
Then Tyrone went to Rockhampton Beef Week ‘on a wing and prayer’ and the then Prime Minister Scott Morrison stumbled across his stall and helped him set it up a trap.
“The media were all around him and me filming, and it really took off from there.”
Tyrone’s traps are spread across the country, from mining sites in Queensland and Western Australia to a caravan park in Canberra.
“Sea rangers choppered the traps in with a helicopter in the Northern Territory, and Land and sea rangers have 10 traps on Bamaga to protect the turtle population.”
“They may remove 100 pigs, but it can take just one feral pig to wipe out a turtle nest of hundreds of eggs.”
Building a business
Tyrone is based in Rockhampton with his small team producing for an ever-growing demand. He hopes to be able to stock the traps in rural stores across Australia, but that will take some capital.
While he builds his business, revenue and market, he’s grateful to Deadly Deals for believing in his traps.
“Since those early days, my business has grown strength to strength with strong purchaser demand. I have showcased and participated at several events with ongoing support of Deadly Deals connections.”
First Nations’ people across the country are grateful too. The traps are protecting Country, heritage sites, plants, animals and whole ecosystems from the destructive pest.
“I’ve been around feral pigs my whole life and I know how devastating they can be for everyone and everything they come in to contact with. That my simple, but effective design is making a big difference to protect our Country is really worthwhile.”
About First Nations Business Acceleration Program, managed by First Australians Capital
The First Nations Innovation Acceleration Program, aims to unlock growth for established Queensland-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses by enhancing investment readiness and proving access to capital pathways. Find out more about First Nations Business Acceleration Program.
Last updated: 10 Mar 2025