The present invention relates generally to the field of animal feeding devices, and more particularly, to feral hog feeding devices configured to meter predetermined amounts of food, toxin, birth control/sterilizing agents or combinations thereof upon entry into the device and to further track and communicate the same to a user's peripheral device to remotely monitor frequency of use thereof while concurrently reducing and/or minimizing entry of non-feral hog animals.
Feral hogs are an invasive pest species that frequently invade wooded areas as well as farm land and subsequently wreak havoc thereon often irreparably damaging these invaded areas due to their ravenous appetites, high breeding rates, and general destructive nature. Furthermore, due to the high breeding rates as well as aggressive nature, feral hog populations are difficult to control and/or eliminate once feral hog infestation and/or invasion into a particular area has occurred. Moreover, due to the highly aggressive nature of feral hogs, active eradication of this invasive species, for example, through hunting often proves to be a dangerous activity.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,034,454 sought to provide a feeding device that addressed many of the problems mentioned above. However, several problems remained. In particular, dispensing birth control agents and toxin proved difficult as these substances were pre-mixed with the food supply, maintained in the bulk food bin, and subsequently dispensed accordingly from that feeding device. However, unless feral hogs were frequently eating from that device, potency and efficacy of the toxin and/or birth control agent quickly diminished due to the pre-mixed nature of the food and these components. Moreover, the above-mentioned device was not equipped with a convenient means to monitor overall use and food supply within the device, which led to frequent and unnecessary in-person monitoring of the food levels in this device, which also proved problematic and inconvenient for that device user as well as a potential deterrent for the feral hogs.
In view of the above mentioned problems, disclosed herein are feral hog assemblies and feral hog feeders that are equipped to monitor usage of these assemblies and feeders and to transmit such data to a peripheral device in a location remote to the assemblies and feeders. The above mentioned feature(s) advantageously allows a user to remotely monitor and track usage frequency of the feeder and feeder assemblies as well as remaining amounts of food, toxin, and birth control agents, which allows the user to efficiently determine when to refill food, toxin, and/or birth control agents therein as well as whether the feeders/assemblies should maintain their positioning or be moved to another location. Moreover, within the disclosed feral hog assemblies and feeders, the food remains separated and is separately dispensed from, for example, the toxin and/or birth control agent. The assemblies and feeders are advantageously configured to immediately dispense the toxin and/or birth control agent immediately before feral hog entry into an enclosed housing thereby maintaining freshness, potency, and efficacy of the toxin and birth control agent for significantly longer time periods than other known devices. Moreover, the devices disclosed herein have several features that selectively deter animals that are not feral hogs. These features include, but are not limited to, spaced apart bars (roll bars) within the partially enclosed ramp and a weight activated floor having a predetermined weight threshold as well as sidewalls form part of the partially enclosed ramp. In certain aspects, disclosed herein is a feral hog feeder assembly including (a) a partially enclosed entrance ramp configured for entry of feral hogs therein while concurrently deterring entry of non-porcine animals; (b) an enclosed housing directly attached to one end of the partially enclosed entrance ramp, the enclosed housing having an openable and closable door positioned adjacent to the one end of the partially enclosed entrance ramp and a food dispensing device as well as a birth control dispensing device and/or toxin dispensing device housed within the enclosed housing, the food dispensing device as well as the birth control dispensing device and/or toxin dispensing device are configured to dispense predetermined amounts of food, birth control agents, and toxin; and (c) a global positioning system (GPS) unit operably coupled to the door, the GPS unit is configured to monitor frequency of use of the assembly by feral hogs by tracking and transmitting frequency of door openings and closings to a peripheral device of a user.
In certain aspects, the GPS unit of the assembly is further configured to track amounts of food remaining in the feeder/assembly (bulk food storage trough), amount of birth control agents remaining in the birth control dispensing device, amount of toxin remaining in the toxin dispensing device, or any combination thereof based on the frequency of door openings and closings.
In certain aspects, the partially enclosed ramp of the assembly includes: (i) an opening on one end of the partially enclosed ramp that is spaced apart from and opposite to the end directly attached to the enclosed housing; (ii) two spaced apart sidewalls spanning an entire length between the opening of the partially enclosed ramp and the end directly attached to the enclosed housing, the two spaced apart sidewalls configured to maintain the feral hogs therein; and (iii) a bottom wall positioned between and directly connected to the two spaced apart sidewalls.
In certain aspects, the partially enclosed ramp of the assembly further comprises a weight activated floor attached thereto that is spaced apart and positioned above the bottom wall of the partially enclosed ramp, the weight activated floor is configured to move from an elevated first position in a direction towards the bottom wall when a predetermined weight threshold is applied thereon to allow for opening of the door.
In certain aspects, the weight activated floor of the assembly extends internally within the enclosed housing and underneath the openable and closable door, the weight activated floor including a door stop positioned thereon that prevents opening of the door internally into the enclosed housing until the predetermined weight threshold is applied on the weight activated floor and the weight activated floor is moved in a direction towards the bottom wall of the partially enclosed ramp.
In certain aspects, the food dispensing device of the assembly comprises a feed trough and a bulk food storage trough that are in fluid communication with one another when the weight activated floor is in the elevated first position and the feed trough and bulk food storage trough are selectively separated from one another by a partition positioned on an end of the weight activated floor is moved in a direction towards the bottom wall of the partially enclosed ramp.
In certain aspects, the birth control dispensing device of the assembly and/or toxin dispensing device of the assembly is positioned above the feed trough and configured to dispense the birth control agent and/or toxin into the feed trough as the weight activated floor is moved in a direction towards the bottom wall of the partially enclosed ramp.
In certain aspects, the weight activated floor of the assembly and birth control dispensing device of the assembly and/or toxin dispensing device of the assembly are operably connected to one another and move in concert with one another.
In certain aspects, the assembly further includes a biasing member operably connected to the partition positioned on the end of the weight activated floor and the birth control dispensing device and/or toxin dispensing device and configured: (i) to bias the birth control dispensing device and/or toxin dispensing device in a closed, non-dispensing position while the weight activated floor is in the elevated first position; and (ii) to selectively move the birth control dispensing device and/or toxin dispensing device into an open, dispensing position when the weight activated floor is actuated in a direction towards the bottom wall of the partially enclosed ramp such that birth control agents and/or toxin is dispensed from the respective birth control dispensing and/or toxin dispensing devices when the partition positioned on the end of the weight activated floor separates the feed trough from the bulk food storage trough.
In certain aspects, the birth control dispensing device of the assembly and/or toxin dispensing device of the assembly includes a plurality of plates in which: (i) a first plate is fixed in place and is configured to receive an opened container of birth control agents, toxins or a combination thereof thereon; (ii) an actuatable plate positioned immediately underneath the first plate that is operably connected to the biasing member, the actuatable plate is configured to move from a closed position in which the actuatable plate includes an opening configured to align with an opening formed in the first plate to receive a predetermined amount of birth control agents, toxins, and/or a combination thereof therein to an open position in which the actuatable plate moves toward an opening positioned immediately beneath the actuatable plate (that is axially aligned with the feed trough immediately below) such that the opening in the actuatable plate having the predetermined amount of birth control agents, toxins, and/or a combination thereof therein aligns with openings positioned immediately beneath the actuatable plate to dispense the birth control agents, toxins or a combination thereof from the actuatable plate into the feed trough.
In certain aspects, the feed assembly further includes a plurality of spaced apart bars securely positioned above the weight activated floor that are configured to deter non-ungulate animals from entering the partially enclosed ramp, each bar having a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the partially enclosed ramp. Each bar of the assembly is rotatable about its longitudinal axis.
In certain aspects, the assembly further includes stabilization bars affixed to the assembly that are configured to stabilize and reduce and/or prevent the assembly from flipping over when assembled.
In certain aspects, a first stabilization bar of the assembly is affixed to a bottom surface of the partially enclosed entrance ramp and extends in a direction away from an outermost surface of each of the two spaced apart sidewalls, and a second stabilization bar of the assembly is affixed to a bottom surface of the enclosed housing and extends in a direction from outermost surfaces of the enclosed housing, with the first and second stabilization bars being arranged parallel to one another.
In certain aspects, the toxin comprises a lethal amount of sodium nitrite and optionally a masking agent and the birth control agent comprises an effective amount of cotton seed oil and/or gossypol.
In further aspects, also disclosed herein is a feral hog feeder including: (a) a partially enclosed entrance ramp configured for entry of feral hogs therein while concurrently deterring entry of non-porcine animals; (b) an enclosed housing directly attached to one end of the partially enclosed entrance ramp, the enclosed housing having an openable and closable door positioned adjacent to the one end of the partially enclosed entrance ramp and a food dispensing device as well as a birth control dispensing device and/or toxin dispensing device housed within the enclosed housing, the food dispensing device as well as the birth control dispensing device and/or toxin dispensing device are configured to dispense predetermined amounts of food, birth control agents, and toxin; and (c) a global positioning system (GPS) unit operably coupled to the door, the GPS unit is configured to monitor frequency of use of the feeder by feral hogs by tracking and transmitting frequency of door openings and closings to a peripheral device of a user.
In certain aspects, the GPS unit of the feeder is further configured to track amounts of food remaining in the feeder/assembly (bulk food storage trough, amount of birth control agents remaining in the birth control dispensing device, amount of toxin remaining in the toxin dispensing device, or any combination thereof based on the frequency of door openings and closings.
In certain aspects, the partially enclosed ramp of the feeder includes (i) an opening on one end of the partially enclosed ramp that is spaced apart from and opposite to the end directly attached to the enclosed housing; (ii) two spaced apart sidewalls spanning an entire length of the ramp between the opening of the partially enclosed ramp and the end directly attached to the enclosed housing, the two spaced apart sidewalls configured to maintain the feral hogs therein; and (iii) a bottom wall positioned between and directly connected to the two spaced apart sidewalls.
In certain aspects, the partially enclosed ramp of the feeder further comprises a weight activated floor attached thereto that is spaced apart and positioned above the bottom wall of the partially enclosed ramp, the weight activated floor is configured to move from an elevated first position in a direction towards the bottom wall when a predetermined weight threshold is applied thereon to allow for opening of the door.
In certain aspects, the weight activated floor of the feeder extends internally within the enclosed housing and underneath the openable and closable door, the weight activated floor including a door stop positioned thereon that prevents opening of the door internally into the enclosed housing until the predetermined weight threshold is applied on the weight activated floor and the weight activated floor is moved in a direction towards the bottom wall of the partially enclosed ramp.
In certain aspects, the food dispensing device of the feeder comprises a feed trough and a bulk food storage trough of the feeder that are in fluid communication with one another when the weight activated floor is in the elevated first position and the feed trough and bulk food storage trough are selectively separated from one another by a partition positioned on an end of the weight activated floor is moved in a direction towards the bottom wall of the partially enclosed ramp.
In certain aspects, the birth control dispensing device of the feeder and/or toxin dispensing device of the feeder is positioned above the feed trough and configured to dispense the birth control agent and/or toxin into the feed trough as the weight activated floor is moved in a direction towards the bottom wall of the partially enclosed ramp.
In certain aspects, the weight activated floor of the feeder and birth control dispensing device of the feeder and/or toxin dispensing device of the feeder are operably connected to one another and move in concert with one another.
In certain aspects, the feeder further includes a biasing member operably connected to the partition positioned on the end of the weight activated floor and the birth control dispensing device and/or toxin dispensing device and configured: (i) to bias the birth control dispensing device and/or toxin dispensing device in a closed, non-dispensing position while the weight activated floor is in the elevated first position; and (ii) to selectively move the birth control dispensing device and/or toxin dispensing device into an open, dispensing position when the weight activated floor is actuated in a direction towards the bottom wall of the partially enclosed ramp such that birth control agents and/or toxin is dispensed from the respective birth control dispensing and/or toxin dispensing devices when the partition positioned on the end of the weight activated floor separates the feed trough from the bulk food storage trough.
In certain aspects, the birth control dispensing device of the feeder and/or toxin dispensing device of the feeder comprises a plurality of plates in which: (i) a first plate is fixed in place and is configured to receive an opened container of birth control agents, toxins or a combination thereof thereon; (ii) an actuatable plate positioned immediately underneath the first plate that is operably connected to the biasing member, the actuatable plate is configured to move from a closed position in which the actuatable plate includes an opening configured to align with an opening formed in the first plate to receive a predetermined amount of birth control agents, toxins, and/or a combination thereof therein to an open position in which the actuatable plate moves toward an opening positioned immediately beneath the actuatable plate such that the opening in the actuatable plate (that is axially aligned with the feed trough immediately below) having the predetermined amount of birth control agents, toxins, and/or a combination thereof therein aligns with openings positioned immediately beneath the actuatable plate to dispense the birth control agents, toxins or a combination thereof from the actuatable plate into the feed trough.
In certain aspects, the feeder further includes a plurality of spaced apart bars securely positioned above the weight activated floor that are configured to deter non-ungulate animals from entering the partially enclosed ramp, each bar having a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the partially enclosed ramp. Each bar of the feeder is rotatable about its longitudinal axis to direct contact towards the weight activated floor.
In certain aspects, the feeder further includes stabilization bars affixed to the feeder that are configured to stabilize and reduce and/or prevent the feeder from flipping over when in use.
In certain aspects, a first stabilization bar is affixed to a bottom surface of the partially enclosed entrance ramp and extends in a direction away from an outermost surface of each of the two spaced apart sidewalls, and a second stabilization bar is affixed to a bottom surface of the enclosed housing and extends in a direction from outermost surfaces of the enclosed housing, with the first and second stabilization bars being arranged parallel to one another.
In certain aspects, the toxin comprises a lethal amount of sodium nitrite and optionally a masking agent and the birth control agent comprises an effective amount of cotton seed oil and/or gossypol.
In certain aspects, also disclosed are trailers and/or dollies configured to transport the disclosed assemblies and feeders from one location to another.
Embodiments of the invention can include one or more or any combination of the above features and configurations.
Additional features, aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present various embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are better understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the representative embodiments set forth herein. The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make, use and practice the invention. Like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the various drawings.
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Particularly shown in
As shown in
The above mentioned sidewalls (106, 108), weight activated floor (112), and plurality of spaced apart bars (109) of the partially enclosed ramp are each configured to advantageously deter animals that are not feral hogs and/or feral hogs not meeting the desired weight threshold. For example, the predetermined weight threshold (i.e., the threshold to move/actuate the biasing member described below) of the weight activated floor (112) is at least 60 pounds, 70 pounds, 80 pounds, 90 pounds, or 100 pounds in order to activate and deploy the weight activated floor from an elevated first position to a lowered position such that the door (142) may be opened. The above mentioned weight threshold advantageously ensures that smaller animals such as skunks, opossums, raccoons, rabbits, deer, and/or feral hogs failing to meet the weight threshold cannot deploy the weight activated ramp and gain entry into the enclosed housing to consume the food, birth control agent, and/or toxin dispensed therein. Moreover, the spacing (e.g., periodic and/or uniform spacing) and/or rotation of the spaced bars (109) further serves as a deterrent to certain larger animals (e.g., bears). For example, it is well known that ungulates such as feral hogs, cows, and deer are not deterred by bars and/or rotating bars (roll bars) such as those disclosed herein while animals with paws such as bears are easily deterred and will not walk on surfaces having spacing and/or rotation as disclosed immediately above. Furthermore, while deer, in theory, would not be deterred by the above mentioned spaced apart bars (109) including the spacing and rotation disclosed above, deer are generally a “line of sight” animal that quickly flee an area if their line of sight becomes unexpectedly occluded. As shown in
In contrast to
In view of the above,
In view of the above, the plurality of through holes (193) positioned in the movable/actuatable plate (187) have a diameter configured to receive and contain a predetermined amount/concentration of toxin and/or birth control agent (e.g., in powder form) from a container housing toxin or birth control agent while in the non-dispensing position and move the same within the plurality of through holes (193) from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position (as shown in
The arrangement of cables (184) and biasing member(s) (182) (e.g., springs) shown in
As further shown in
In certain aspects, the toxin disclosed herein is sodium nitrite (e.g., in powder form) dispensed in a predetermined amount to be lethal amount to a feral hog weighing 70 lbs., 100 lbs., 125 lbs., 150 lbs., 175 lbs., 200 lbs., or greater than 200 lbs. The toxin may further be concurrently dispensed with a masking agent to further ensure consumption of the toxin by the feral hog. In certain additional aspects, the birth control agent includes an effective amount of cotton seed oil and/or gossypol. It is envisioned that the feeders/assemblies (100) disclosed herein may dispense any combination of toxin, masking agent, and birth control agent concurrently.
The exterior components of the feeders/assemblies (100) are metal and are preferably a galvannealed metal having a uniform matte grey color with low reflectivity that can be easily painted if desired. This material is preferably strong, durable, and has very low oxidation in order to resist rust formation. Likewise, the interior components of the feeders/assemblies (100) within the enclosed housing are preferably formed or a strong, durable, metal material that further resists rust formation. In certain aspects, the interior components are also formed of a galvannealed metal.
As further shown in
Also disclosed herein are dolleys and/or trailers having sufficient size to load the feeders/assemblies (100) thereon to easily transport the feeders/assemblies (100) to and from different locations.
The foregoing description provides embodiments of the invention by way of example only. It is envisioned that other embodiments may perform similar functions and/or achieve similar results. Any and all such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the appended claims.