Damage caused to rangelands by wild pig rooting activity is mitigated with intensive trapping

Abstract

The wild pig (Sus scrofa), an exotic and invasive species, has caused great concern at a global scale, particularly within agricultural landscapes. The objective of this study was to determine whether intensive trapping and wild pig removal resulted in a concomitant decrease in damage to rangelands. Removal of 356 wild pigs over 2 years showed an immediate reduction in rooting damage that carried over after trapping ceased. After only one trap session, rooting damage across the three sites was reduced 43–82% and total damage reduction from the beginning to the end of the project was 90%. With intensive trapping (1 pig/22.7 ha/year), damage may also be reduced on neighboring areas that are not being trapped, as indicated by data from our non-trapped units. Although we reduced rooting damage locally, and on nearby areas, large-scale, intensive control will be needed for the long-term effective reduction in damage and wild pig numbers because wild pigs have high reproductive rates, high survival, and can recolonize areas rapidly.

Keywords:

• corral traps
• drop net
• eradication
• feral swine
• management
• population control
• Sus scrofa

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

In the United States, wild pigs (also known as feral hogs or feral swine) are a non-native and invasive species. As wild pigs increase in abundance and distribution, producers and land managers are searching for strategies to mitigate rooting damage. Eradication of wild pigs is improbable so wild pigs are likely to increasingly inhabit rangelands, forests, and agricultural lands. Because damage from wild pig rooting can cost billions of dollars per year in the United States, we sought to understand if rooting damage could be reduced by intensive trapping and removal of wild pigs. Our study demonstrates that intensive trapping of wild pigs using two trapping techniques drastically reduces damage across, and even beyond, the extent at which control efforts were implemented.

Acknowledgements

We thank Fred E. Smeins and Roel R. Lopez for project support and development; Bill Hoffmann for providing access to his ranch; all Noble Research Institute employees who assisted during this study; and S. M. Harju for statistical advice.

Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

Noble Research Institute, LLC provided project funding.

Notes on contributors

Joshua A. Gaskamp

Joshua A. Gaskamp, MS, is the Technical Consultation Manager in Producer Relations at Noble Research Institute.

Kenneth L. Gee

Kenneth L. Gee, MS, is Conservation Delivery Specialist for Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture.

Tyler A. Campbell

Tyler A. Campbell, PhD, is Chief Program Officer and Principal Scientist for East Foundation.

Nova J. Silvy

Nova J. Silvy, PhD, is Regents Professor in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University.

Stephen L. Webb

Stephen L. Webb, PhD, is the Manager of Ag Systems Technology in Applied Ag Systems Research and Technology at Noble Research Institute.