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Changes in wild pig (Sus scrofa) relative abundance, crop damage, and environmental impacts in response to control efforts

Journal Article · · Pest Management Science
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7671· OSTI ID:1992977
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1]
  1. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL); Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States)
  2. US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Fort Collins, CO (United States)
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BACKGROUND: As the population and range of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) continue to grow across North America, there has been an increase in environmental and economic damages caused by this invasive species, and control efforts to reduce damages have increased concomitantly. Despite the expanding impacts and costs associated with population control of wild pigs, the extent to which wild pig control reduces populations and diminishes environmental and agricultural damages are rarely quantified. The goal of this study is to quantify changes in wild pig relative abundance and subsequent changes in damages caused by invasive wild pigs in response to control. RESULTS: Using a combination of wild pig population surveys, agricultural damage assessments, and environmental rooting surveys across 19 mixed forest-agricultural properties in South Carolina, USA, we quantified changes in wild pig relative abundance and associated damages over a 3-year period following implementation of a professional control program. Following implementation of control efforts, both the number of wild pig detections and estimated abundance decreased markedly. Within 24 months relative abundance was reduced by an average of ~70%, which resulted in a corresponding decline in environmental rooting damage by ~99%. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that sustained wild pig control efforts can substantially reduce wild pig relative abundance, which in turn resulted in a reduction in environmental rooting damage by wild pigs. Ultimately this study will help fill critical knowledge gaps regarding the efficacy of wild pig control programs and the effort needed to reduce impacts to native ecosystems, livestock, and crops. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
Grant/Contract Number:
EM0005228
OSTI ID:
1992977
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1995921
OSTI ID: 2575925
Journal Information:
Pest Management Science, Journal Name: Pest Management Science Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 79; ISSN 1526-498X; ISSN 1526-4998
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

Agriculture
Entomology
Sus scrofa
agricultural damage
corn
environmental damage
management
peanuts
rooting
wild pigs