Characterizing the Economic Value and Impacts of Wild Pig Damage on a Rural Economy

ABSTRACT

Wild pigs are a free-ranging invasive species capable of inflicting significant damage on rural property. Wildlife management personnel may benefit from understanding the negative societal impact of wild pigs. A statewide mail survey of randomly selected landowners was conducted in rural Tennessee counties known to have wild pigs. The economic value of damage caused by wild pigs in 2015 in these counties was estimated at $26.22 million, whereas the cost incurred in control and eradication was $2.09 million. Input-output modeling of damage in these counties on the state’s economy showed $32.8 million in lost industrial output, $4.6 million in lost labor income, and 332 jobs or job equivalents affected. Findings are useful in understanding the types of damage, and the extent of these impacts on the rural economy. They could also facilitate comparing the expected benefit with the cost of control programs in Tennessee and comparable areas facing similar invasions from wild pigs.

KEYWORDS:

• economic impacts
• input-output
• invasive species
• Tennessee
• wild pig damage
• wild pigs

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the partners of Tennessee Wild Hog Eradication Action Team (WHEAT).

Notes

1. Wild pigs are often also referred to as wild hogs, feral swine, and several others. See Keiter, Mayer, and Beasley (2016) for details.

2. https://www.tn.gov/twra/article/wild-pig-regulations. Retrieved 04/13/2016.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the partners of Tennessee Wild Hog Eradication Action Team (WHEAT).