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Kilgo JC, Vukovich M, Cox KJ, Larsen M, Mims TT, Garabedian JE. Assessing whole-sounder removal versus traditional control for reducing invasive wild pig (Sus scrofa) populations. Pest Manag Sci 2023; 79:3033-3042. [PMID: 36966457 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trapping is commonly used as the primary management tool in attempts to reduce invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa), but traditional trapping techniques are often ineffective. However, recently developed traps permit the capture of entire social groups (sounders) of wild pigs, and the strategy of whole-sounder removal may achieve more effective control. Our objective was to experimentally compare traditional control (TC; primarily traditional trapping, but including hunting with dogs, and opportunistic shooting) and whole-sounder removal (WSR) strategies by assessing density reduction and removal rate after 1 and 2 years of treatment. RESULTS After 1 year of trapping, average wild pig density on WSR units declined 53% and remained stable after the second year, whereas on TC units, pig density did not differ after trapping, although it declined 33% and remained stable after the second year of trapping. The median removal rate (percentage of uniquely marked pigs present at the beginning of each year that were removed) was 42.5% for WSR units and 0.0% for TC units during 2018 and were 29.6% from WSR units and 5.3% from TC units during 2019. CONCLUSIONS WSR removal was more effective at reducing wild pig density than TC, but factors such as previous exposure of this population to traditional traps and the lack of barriers to recolonization from surrounding areas may have reduced WSR efficacy. WSR can effectively reduce wild pig density to a greater extent than TC, but managers should recognize the additional time and expense necessary for implementation. Published 2023. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Kilgo
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, New Ellenton, SC, USA
| | - Mark Vukovich
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, New Ellenton, SC, USA
| | - Kyle J Cox
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, New Ellenton, SC, USA
| | - Michael Larsen
- USDA Forest Service, Savannah River, New Ellenton, SC, USA
| | - Thomas T Mims
- USDA Forest Service, Savannah River, New Ellenton, SC, USA
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Garabedian JE, Cox KJ, Vukovich M, Kilgo JC. Co‐occurrence of native white‐tailed deer and invasive wild pigs: Evidence for competition? Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- James E. Garabedian
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station New Ellenton South Carolina USA
| | - Kyle J. Cox
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station New Ellenton South Carolina USA
| | - Mark Vukovich
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station New Ellenton South Carolina USA
| | - John C. Kilgo
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station New Ellenton South Carolina USA
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Kilgo JC, Garabedian JE, Vukovich M, Schlichting PE, Byrne ME, Beasley JC. Food resources affect territoriality of invasive wild pig sounders with implications for control. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18821. [PMID: 34552124 PMCID: PMC8458451 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97798-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interest in control methods for invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) has increased due to their range expansion, population growth, and an improved understanding of their destructive ecological and economic effects. Recent technological advances in traps for control of pig populations facilitate capture of entire social groups (sounders), but the efficacy of “whole-sounder” trapping strategies is heavily dependent on the degree of territoriality among sounders, a topic little research has explored. We assessed territoriality in wild pig sounders on the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, USA, and examined whether availability of food resources provided by a municipal-waste landfill affected among-sounder territoriality. We estimated utilization distribution overlap and dynamic interactions among 18 neighboring sounders around a landfill. We found that although neighboring sounders overlapped in space, intensity of use in shared areas was uniformly low, indicating territorial behavior. Neighbors tended to share slightly more space when closer to the landfill waste cells, indicating availability of a super-abundant resource somewhat weakens the degree of territoriality among sounders. Nevertheless, we conclude that sounders behaved in a generally territorial manner, and we discuss implications for whole-sounder trapping programs, particularly near concentrated resources such as landfills and crop fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Kilgo
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, P.O. Box 700, New Ellenton, SC, 29809, USA.
| | - James E Garabedian
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, P.O. Box 700, New Ellenton, SC, 29809, USA
| | - Mark Vukovich
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, P.O. Box 700, New Ellenton, SC, 29809, USA.,USDA Forest Service, Shawnee National Forest, 602 North First St., Vienna, IL, 62995, USA
| | - Peter E Schlichting
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA.,Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 1 Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL, 62702, USA
| | - Michael E Byrne
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA.,School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - James C Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- John J. Mayer
- Savannah River National Laboratory Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC, Savannah River Site Bldg. 999‐W Aiken SC 29808 USA
| | - Thomas B. Edwards
- Savannah River National Laboratory Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC, Savannah River Site Bldg. 999‐W Aiken SC 29808 USA
| | - James E. Garabedian
- USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station P.O. Box 700 New Ellenton SC 29809 USA
| | - John C. Kilgo
- USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station P.O. Box 700 New Ellenton SC 29809 USA
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Vukovich M, Garabedian JE, Zarnoch SJ, Kilgo JC. Do Remote Camera Arrangements and Image Capture Settings Improve Individual Identification of Golden Eagles? WILDLIFE SOC B 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Vukovich
- USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station P.O Box 700 New Ellenton SC 29809 USA
| | - James E. Garabedian
- USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station P.O Box 700 New Ellenton SC 29809 USA
| | | | - John C. Kilgo
- USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station P.O Box 700 New Ellenton SC 29809 USA
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Garabedian JE, Moorman CE, Peterson MN, Kilgo JC. Neighboring group density is more important than forest stand age to a threatened social woodpecker population. Wildlife Biology 2019. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher E. Moorman
- C. E. Moorman and M. N. Peterson, Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Program, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - M. Nils Peterson
- C. E. Moorman and M. N. Peterson, Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Program, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - John C. Kilgo
- J. C. Kilgo, USDA Forest Service, Savannah River, New Ellenton, SC, USA
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Garabedian JE, Moorman CE, Peterson MN, Kilgo JC. Systematic Review of the Influence of Foraging Habitat on Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Reproductive Success. Wildlife Biology 2014. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.13004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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