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Snow NP, Glow MP, Foster JA, VerCauteren KC. Seasonal efficacy and risks from a sodium nitrite toxic bait for wild pigs. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:3227-3237. [PMID: 38357838 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are an invasive and destructive species throughout many regions of the world. A sodium nitrite (SN) toxic bait is currently used in Australia and being developed for use in the US and other countries to combat the increasing populations of wild pigs. In the US, efforts to modify the Australian SN-toxic bait and baiting strategy have focused on reducing issues with non-target animals accessing the SN-toxic bait spilled outside of bait stations by wild pigs. We tested and compared modifications for efficacy (with wild pigs) and hazards (with non-targets) in north-central Texas, US during summer (July 2021) and winter (March 2023) seasons. RESULTS During both seasons we found that visitation to the bait sites declined 94-99% after deploying the SN-toxic bait, and we found a total of 106 dead wild pigs, indicating considerable lethality for the local population. Prior to deploying the SN-toxic bait, Global Positioning System (GPS)-collared wild pigs were more likely to cease visiting bait sites during summer when foraging resources were abundant. Farrowing decreased visitation to bait sites during the winter. We observed no dead non-targets during summer; winter results showed an average of 5.2 dead migrating birds per bait site (primarily Dark-eye juncos [Junco hyemalis]) from consuming SN-toxic bait spilled by wild pigs. The presence and winter-foraging behaviors of migrating birds appeared to increase hazards for those species. CONCLUSION The current formulation of SN-toxic bait was effective at removing wild pigs during both seasons, however it is clear that different baiting strategies may be required in winter when migrating birds are present. Baiting wild pigs prior to farrowing during the winter, and during drier summers, may further improve efficacy of the bait. Reducing hazards to non-targets could be achieved by refining the SN-toxic bait or modifying bait stations to decrease the potential for spillage, decreasing environmental persistence if spilled, or decreasing attractiveness to migrating birds. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan P Snow
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Michael P Glow
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Justin A Foster
- Kerr Wildlife Management Area, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Hunt, Texas, USA
| | - Kurt C VerCauteren
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Evans TS, Ellison N, Boudreau MR, Strickland BK, Street GM, Iglay RB. What drives wild pig (Sus scrofa) movement in bottomland and upland forests? MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:32. [PMID: 38664784 PMCID: PMC11044336 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00472-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The wild pig (Sus scrofa) is an exotic species that has been present in the southeastern United States for centuries yet continues to expand into new areas dominated by bottomland and upland forests, the latter of which are less commonly associated with wild pigs. Here, we aimed to investigate wild pig movement and space use attributes typically used to guide wild pig management among multiple spatiotemporal scales. Our investigation focused on a newly invaded landscape dominated by bottomland and upland forests. METHODS We examined (1) core and total space use using an autocorrelated kernel density estimator; (2) resource selection patterns and hot spots of space use in relation to various landscape features using step-selection analysis; and (3) daily and hourly differences in movement patterns between non-hunting and hunting seasons using generalized additive mixed models. RESULTS Estimates of total space use among wild pigs (n = 9) were smaller at calculated core (1.2 ± 0.3 km2) and 90% (5.2 ± 1.5 km2) isopleths than estimates reported in other landscapes in the southeastern United States, suggesting that wild pigs were able to meet foraging, cover, and thermoregulatory needs within smaller areas. Generally, wild pigs selected areas closer to herbaceous, woody wetlands, fields, and perennial streams, creating corridors of use along these features. However, selection strength varied among individuals, reinforcing the generalist, adaptive nature of wild pigs. Wild pigs also showed a tendency to increase movement from fall to winter, possibly paralleling increases in hard mast availability. During this time, there were also increases in anthropogenic pressures (e.g. hunting), causing movements to become less diurnal as pressure increased. CONCLUSIONS Our work demonstrates that movement patterns by exotic generalists must be understood across individuals, the breadth of landscapes they can invade, and multiple spatiotemporal scales. This improved understanding will better inform management strategies focused on curbing emerging invasions in novel landscapes, while also protecting native natural resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler S Evans
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, 775 Stone Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA.
| | - Natasha Ellison
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, 775 Stone Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
| | - Melanie R Boudreau
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, 775 Stone Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
| | - Bronson K Strickland
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, 775 Stone Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
| | - Garrett M Street
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, 775 Stone Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
| | - Raymond B Iglay
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, 775 Stone Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
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Snow NP, Glow MP, Lavelle MJ, Fischer JW, Cook SM, Lutman M, Foster JA, VerCauteren KC. Dry and Unwary are Best Conditions for Baiting Wild Pigs (Sus scrofa). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Snow NP, Kupferman CA, Lavelle MJ, Pepin KM, Melton MH, Gann WJ, VerCauteren KC, Beasley JC. No panacea attractant for wild pigs (Sus scrofa), but season and location matter. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Gray SM, Humphreys JM, Montgomery RA, Etter DR, VerCauteren KC, Kramer DB, Roloff GJ. Behavioral states in space and time: understanding landscape use by an invasive mammal. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven M. Gray
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University 480 Wilson Road, 13 Natural Resources Building East Lansing MI 48824 USA
| | - John M. Humphreys
- Pest Management Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Sidney MT 59270 USA
| | - Robert A. Montgomery
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney House, Abingdon Road Tubney Oxon OX13 5QL United Kingdom
| | - Dwayne R. Etter
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources–Wildlife Division Lansing MI 48911 USA
| | - Kurt C. VerCauteren
- National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Daniel B. Kramer
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University 480 Wilson Road, 13 Natural Resources Building East Lansing MI 48824 USA
- James Madison College Michigan State University East Lansing MI 48824 USA
| | - Gary J. Roloff
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University 480 Wilson Road, 13 Natural Resources Building East Lansing MI 48824 USA
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Deterring non-target birds from toxic bait sites for wild pigs. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19967. [PMID: 34620966 PMCID: PMC8497612 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99547-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxic baiting of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) is a potential new tool for population control and damage reduction in the US. Field trials testing a prototype toxic bait (HOGGONE 2 containing 5% sodium nitrite [SN]), though, revealed that wild pigs spilled small particles of toxic bait outside of bait stations which subsequently created hazards for non-target species that consumed those particles, primarily passerine birds. To deter non-target birds from consuming particles of spilled bait, we tested four deterrents at mock bait sites (i.e., baited with bird seed) in north-central Colorado, USA during April–May 2020. We found a programable, inflatable deterrent device (scare dancer) reduced bird visitation by an average of 96%. Then, we evaluated the deterrent devices at SN-toxic bait sites in north-central Texas, USA during July 2020, where the devices were activated the morning following deployment of SN-toxic bait. Overall, we found 139 dead wild pigs at 10 bait sites following one night of toxic baiting, which represented an average of 91% reduction in wild pigs visiting bait sites. We found that deterrent devices were 100% effective at deterring birds from toxic bait sites. We found two dead non-target mice at bait sites without deterrent devices. We noted that deploying toxic bait in mid-summer rather than late-winter/early-spring reduced hazards to migrating birds because they were not present in our study area during July. We recommend using deterrent devices (i.e., novel, programmable, battery operated, continuous and erratic movement, and snapping sounds) to reduce hazards to non-target birds at SN-toxic bait sites. We further recommend deploying SN-toxic bait during seasons when migrating birds are not as abundant until further research demonstrates minimal risks to migrating birds.
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Snow NP, Wishart JD, Foster JA, Staples LD, VerCauteren KC. Efficacy and risks from a modified sodium nitrite toxic bait for wild pigs. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2021; 77:1616-1625. [PMID: 33200879 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a destructive invasive species throughout many regions of the world. In 2018, a field evaluation of an early prototype of a sodium nitrite (SN) toxic bait in the United States revealed wild pigs dropped large amounts of the toxic bait outside the pig-specific bait stations while feeding, and thus subsequent hazards for non-target animals. We modified the SN-toxic bait formulation, the design of the bait station, and the baiting strategy to reduce dropped bait. We tested the modifications in Queensland, Australia (December 2018), Alabama, USA (August 2019), and Texas, USA (March 2020) under differing climatic and seasonal conditions for one night. RESULTS Cumulatively we found 161 carcasses of all age classes of wild pigs using systematic transects. Remote camera indices indicated high lethality for wild pigs, achieving population reductions of 76.3 to 90.4%. Wild pigs dropped only small particles of SN-toxic bait (average = 55.5 g per bait site), which represented a 19-fold decrease from the previous trial. Despite this reduction, we found three Australian ravens (Corvus coronoides) in Queensland, two Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) in Alabama, and 35 granivorous-passerine birds (mostly dark-eyed juncos [Junco hyemalis]) in Texas dead from consuming the dropped bait. We did not detect any population-level effects for those species. CONCLUSION Our modifications were effective at reducing populations of wild pigs, but the deaths of non-target species require further steps to minimize these hazards. Next steps will include evaluating various deterrent devices for birds the morning after SN-toxic bait has been offered. Published 2020. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan P Snow
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Jason D Wishart
- Animal Control Technologies Australia Pty Ltd, Somerton, Australia
| | - Justin A Foster
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Kerr Wildlife Management Area, Hunt, TX, USA
| | - Linton D Staples
- Animal Control Technologies Australia Pty Ltd, Somerton, Australia
| | - Kurt C VerCauteren
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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LAVELLE MICHAELJ, SNOW NATHANP, ELLIS CHRISTINEK, HALSETH JOSEPHM, FISCHER JUSTINW, GLOW MICHAELP, VANNATTA ERICH, FRIESENHAHN BETHANYA, VERCAUTEREN KURTC. Improved Strategies for Handling Entire Sounders of Wild Pigs. WILDLIFE SOC B 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- MICHAEL J. LAVELLE
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - NATHAN P. SNOW
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - CHRISTINE K. ELLIS
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - JOSEPH M. HALSETH
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - JUSTIN W. FISCHER
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - MICHAEL P. GLOW
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - ERIC H. VANNATTA
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - BETHANY A. FRIESENHAHN
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University, 700 University Boulevard Kingsville TX 78363 USA
| | - KURT C. VERCAUTEREN
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
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Snow NP, Halseth JM, Glow MP, Lavelle MJ, Fischer JW, Vannatta EH, VerCauTeren KC. Daily and Landscape Influences of Species Visitation to Toxic Bait Sites for Wild Pigs. WILDLIFE SOC B 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan P. Snow
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Ave. Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Joseph M. Halseth
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Ave. Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Michael P. Glow
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Ave. Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Michael J. Lavelle
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Ave. Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Justin W. Fischer
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Ave. Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Eric H. Vannatta
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Ave. Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Kurt C. VerCauTeren
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 LaPorte Ave. Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
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McRae JE, Schlichting PE, Snow NP, Davis AJ, VerCauteren KC, Kilgo JC, Keiter DA, Beasley JC, Pepin KM. Factors Affecting Bait Site Visitation: Area of Influence of Baits. WILDLIFE SOC B 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn E. McRae
- U.S. Department of Agriculture—Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 Laporte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Peter E. Schlichting
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia P.O. Drawer E Aiken SC 29802 USA
| | - Nathan P. Snow
- U.S. Department of Agriculture—Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 Laporte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Amy J. Davis
- U.S. Department of Agriculture—Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 Laporte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Kurt C. VerCauteren
- U.S. Department of Agriculture—Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 Laporte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - John C. Kilgo
- U.S. Department of Agriculture—Forest Service Southern Research Station P.O. Box 700 New Ellenton SC 29809 USA
| | - David A. Keiter
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia P.O. Drawer E Aiken SC 29802 USA
| | - James C. Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia P.O. Drawer E Aiken SC 29802 USA
| | - Kim M. Pepin
- U.S. Department of Agriculture—Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 4101 Laporte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
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Sanders HN, Hewitt DG, Perotto-Baldivieso HL, VerCauteren KC, Snow NP. Invasive Wild Pigs as Primary Nest Predators for Wild Turkeys. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2625. [PMID: 32060348 PMCID: PMC7021696 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59543-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Depredation of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) nests is a leading cause of reduced recruitment for the recovering and iconic game species. Invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are known to depredate nests, and have been expanding throughout the distributed range of wild turkeys in North America. We sought to gain better insight on the magnitude of wild pigs depredating wild turkey nests. We constructed simulated wild turkey nests throughout the home ranges of 20 GPS-collared wild pigs to evaluate nest depredation relative to three periods within the nesting season (i.e., early, peak, and late) and two nest densities (moderate = 12.5-25 nests/km2, high = 25-50 nests/km2) in south-central Texas, USA during March–June 2016. Overall, the estimated probability of nest depredation by wild pigs was 0.3, equivalent to native species of nest predators in the study area (e.g., gray fox [Urocyon cinereoargenteus], raccoon [Procyon lotor], and coyote [Canis latrans]). Female wild pigs exhibited a constant rate of depredation regardless of nesting period or density of nests. However, male wild pigs increased their rate of depredation in areas with higher nest densities. Management efforts should remove wild pigs to reduce nest failure in wild turkey populations especially where recruitment is low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather N Sanders
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University Kingsville, 700 University Boulevard, Kingsville, TX, 78363, USA
| | - David G Hewitt
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University Kingsville, 700 University Boulevard, Kingsville, TX, 78363, USA
| | - Humberto L Perotto-Baldivieso
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University Kingsville, 700 University Boulevard, Kingsville, TX, 78363, USA
| | - Kurt C VerCauteren
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA
| | - Nathan P Snow
- USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
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Wilber MQ, Chinn SM, Beasley JC, Boughton RK, Brook RK, Ditchkoff SS, Fischer JW, Hartley SB, Holmstrom LK, Kilgo JC, Lewis JS, Miller RS, Snow NP, VerCauteren KC, Wisely SM, Webb CT, Pepin KM. Predicting functional responses in agro-ecosystems from animal movement data to improve management of invasive pests. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 30:e02015. [PMID: 31596984 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Functional responses describe how changing resource availability affects consumer resource use, thus providing a mechanistic approach to prediction of the invasibility and potential damage of invasive alien species (IAS). However, functional responses can be context dependent, varying with resource characteristics and availability, consumer attributes, and environmental variables. Identifying context dependencies can allow invasion and damage risk to be predicted across different ecoregions. Understanding how ecological factors shape the functional response in agro-ecosystems can improve predictions of hotspots of highest impact and inform strategies to mitigate damage across locations with varying crop types and availability. We linked heterogeneous movement data across different agro-ecosystems to predict ecologically driven variability in the functional responses. We applied our approach to wild pigs (Sus scrofa), one of the most successful and detrimental IAS worldwide where agricultural resource depredation is an important driver of spread and establishment. We used continental-scale movement data within agro-ecosystems to quantify the functional response of agricultural resources relative to availability of crops and natural forage. We hypothesized that wild pigs would selectively use crops more often when natural forage resources were low. We also examined how individual attributes such as sex, crop type, and resource stimulus such as distance to crops altered the magnitude of the functional response. There was a strong agricultural functional response where crop use was an accelerating function of crop availability at low density (Type III) and was highly context dependent. As hypothesized, there was a reduced response of crop use with increasing crop availability when non-agricultural resources were more available, emphasizing that crop damage levels are likely to be highly heterogeneous depending on surrounding natural resources and temporal availability of crops. We found significant effects of crop type and sex, with males spending 20% more time and visiting crops 58% more often than females, and both sexes showing different functional responses depending on crop type. Our application demonstrates how commonly collected animal movement data can be used to understand context dependencies in resource use to improve our understanding of pest foraging behavior, with implications for prioritizing spatiotemporal hotspots of potential economic loss in agro-ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Q Wilber
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA
- USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2154, USA
| | - Sarah M Chinn
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, South Carolina, 29081, USA
| | - James C Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, South Carolina, 29081, USA
| | - Raoul K Boughton
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ona, Florida, 33865, USA
| | - Ryan K Brook
- Department of Animal & Poultry Science and Indigenous Land Management Institute, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5AB, Canada
| | - Stephen S Ditchkoff
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, 36849 , USA
| | - Justin W Fischer
- USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2154, USA
| | - Steve B Hartley
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 700 Cajundome Boulevarde, Lafayette, Louisiana, 70506, USA
| | - Lindsey K Holmstrom
- Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526, USA
| | - John C Kilgo
- USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, P.O. Box 700, New Ellenton, South Carolina, 29809, USA
| | - Jesse S Lewis
- College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Mesa, Arizona, 85212, USA
| | - Ryan S Miller
- Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526, USA
| | - Nathan P Snow
- USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2154, USA
| | - Kurt C VerCauteren
- USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2154, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Colleen T Webb
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA
| | - Kim M Pepin
- USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2154, USA
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Snow NP, Horak KE, Humphrys ST, Staples LD, Hewitt DG, VerCauteren KC. Low secondary risks for captive coyotes from a sodium nitrite toxic bait for invasive wild pigs. WILDLIFE SOC B 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan P. Snow
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research InstituteTexas A&M University‐Kingsville 700 University Boulevard, MSC 218 Kingsville TX 78363 USA
| | - Katherine E. Horak
- U.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Wildlife ServicesNational Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| | - Simon T. Humphrys
- Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, 33 Flemington Street Glenside South Australia 5062 Australia
| | - Linton D. Staples
- Animal Control Technologies Australia Pty Ltd, 46‐50 Freight Drive, Somerton Victoria 3062 Australia
| | - David G. Hewitt
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research InstituteTexas A&M University‐Kingsville 700 University Boulevard, MSC 218 Kingsville TX 78363 USA
| | - Kurt C. VerCauteren
- U.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Wildlife ServicesNational Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
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Snow NP, Lavelle MJ, Halseth JM, Glow MP, VanNatta EH, Davis AJ, Pepin KM, Tabor RT, Leland BR, Staples LD, VerCauteren KC. Exposure of a population of invasive wild pigs to simulated toxic bait containing biomarker: implications for population reduction. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2019; 75:1140-1149. [PMID: 30324708 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An international effort to develop an acute and humane toxic bait for invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) is underway to curtail their expansion. We evaluated the ability to expose a population of wild pigs to a simulated toxic bait (i.e., placebo bait containing a biomarker, rhodamine B, in lieu of the toxic ingredient) to gain insight on potential population reduction. We used 28 GPS-collars and sampled 428 wild pigs to examine their vibrissae for evidence of consuming the bait. RESULTS We estimated that 91% of wild pigs within 0.75 km of bait sites (total area = 16.8 km2 ) consumed the simulated toxic bait, exposing them to possible lethal effects. Bait sites spaced 0.75-1.5 km apart achieved optimal delivery of the bait, but wild pigs ranging ≥ 3 km away were susceptible. Use of wild pig-specific bait stations resulted in no non-target species directly accessing the bait. CONCLUSION Results demonstrate the potential for exposing a large proportion of wild pigs to a toxic bait in similar ecosystems. Toxic baits may be an effective tool for reducing wild pig populations especially if used as part of an integrated pest management strategy. Investigation of risks associated with a field-deployment of the toxic bait is needed. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan P Snow
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Michael J Lavelle
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Joseph M Halseth
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Michael P Glow
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Eric H VanNatta
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Amy J Davis
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Kim M Pepin
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | | | - Linton D Staples
- Animal Control Technologies Australia Pty Ltd, Somerton, VIC, Australia
| | - Kurt C VerCauteren
- USDA/APHIS/ Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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