What You Need to Know

Field Engine is a wildlife research and management company that develops and delivers science-based solutions to complex wildlife challenges. We combine peer-reviewed research, proprietary tools and technology, and decades of field experience to help agencies, landowners, and conservation organizations manage wildlife populations and protect ecosystems.

Field Engine was founded by Dr. Vickie DeNicola, who also co-created the Pig Brig® trap system. Our leadership team includes experienced wildlife biologists and conservation professionals with backgrounds spanning deer management, fertility control, island eradication, invasive species removal, tick-borne disease research, and international conservation. You can learn more on our About page.

White Buffalo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife research organization and a research partner of Field Engine. White Buffalo's scientific research provides a peer-reviewed foundation that informs our management programs and product development. Many of our team members have collaborated with White Buffalo on research projects spanning over two decades. The two organizations share a commitment to humane, science-driven wildlife management, but operate independently with distinct missions.

Three things set us apart. First, our work is grounded in a deep body of peer-reviewed research, not just field experience. Second, we develop our own tools and technology, including the Pig Brig® trap system now deployed in 39 countries. Third, our team has direct operational experience across a wide range of ecosystems and species, from suburban deer management in the eastern U.S. to invasive ungulate eradication on remote Pacific islands. We bring the research, the tools, and the field capability under one roof.

Our work spans several core areas:

• Deer and ungulate population management, including lethal and non-lethal methods
• Feral swine control and eradication
• Island conservation and invasive species removal
• Wildlife fertility control research and implementation
• Tick-borne disease mitigation through wildlife and habitat management
• Movement ecology and wildlife monitoring technology
• Custom research and program design for specific management challenges

No. While invasive species management, including feral swine and island eradication programs, is a significant part of our portfolio, we also work extensively with native species. Our deer population management and fertility control programs, tick-borne disease research, and movement ecology work all involve native wildlife. Our approach is species-agnostic: we go where the science points and the need exists.

Our team has direct operational and research experience with white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, feral swine, feral goats, feral cattle, axis deer, mouflon, wild horses, coyotes, black bears, and a range of other species across North America, the Pacific Islands, and international settings. If you have a question about a specific species or situation, reach out and we will let you know if we can help.

Yes. Field Engine has supported projects across the continental United States, Hawaii, and internationally. The Pig Brig® trap system has been deployed in 39 countries. Our island conservation and eradication work has taken our team to remote locations in the Pacific and beyond. We are open to partnerships and projects worldwide.

It is not a tagline. Our management programs are built on a body of peer-reviewed research that our team has authored and contributed to over more than 25 years. This includes published studies on deer population dynamics, fertility control agents, acaricide treatment for tick-borne disease, wildlife capture and handling welfare, and invasive species eradication methods. Our Publications page lists over 50 papers in the scientific literature. When we recommend an approach, it has been tested, measured, and published.

Yes, we conduct research, we support students at both the Masters and PhD level, and we work in close partnership with White Buffalo. We are actively involved in research on wildlife fertility control, tick-borne disease ecology, movement and biologging technology, and humane capture and handling methods. Our team publishes regularly in peer-reviewed journals and collaborates with universities and government agencies on funded research projects.

Our team has worked with various federal and state wildlife agencies, and numerous university research programs. We welcome collaborative research partnerships and are experienced in operating within the regulatory and permitting frameworks that government-funded wildlife work requires.

We partner with federal and state wildlife agencies, municipalities, tribal nations, land trusts, conservation NGOs, private landowners, and international conservation organizations. Our work scales from local community deer management programs to multi-year island eradication campaigns. If you are managing wildlife on any scale, we are equipped to help.

Yes. We work with private landowners and land managers who are dealing with crop damage, habitat degradation, feral swine, overabundant deer, or other wildlife conflicts. We can provide assessment, program design, direct management, or a combination depending on the situation and scale.

Start by contacting us with a brief description of your situation, location, and goals. We will schedule a conversation to understand the scope, discuss options, and determine whether we are the right fit. There is no cost or commitment for an initial consultation.

Pig Brig® traps are portable, whole-sounder net trap systems for wild pig management, co-developed by Vickie DeNicola and Anthony DeNicola. It was designed to address the limitations of traditional corral traps: heavy infrastructure, single-site deployment, and low capture efficiency. Pig Brig® traps are lightweight, rapidly deployable, and built for real field conditions. The system has been adopted by wildlife professionals, agencies, and landowners in 39 countries. Pig Brig® Trap Systems are a product of Field Engine.

Pig Brig® traps are available directly at pigbrig.com. For agency or bulk purchasing inquiries, contact us directly.

Yes. We provide training resources and support for agencies and organizations deploying Pig Brig® at scale. This can include deployment guidance, best practices for site selection and baiting, and integration with broader wild pig management programs. Get in touch to discuss training needs for your team.