In west‐central Texas, USA, abatement efforts for the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) rabies epizootic illustrate the difficulties inherent in large‐scale management of wildlife disease. The rabies epizootic has been managed through a cooperative oral rabies vaccination program (ORV) since 1996. Millions of edible baits containing a rabies vaccine have been distributed annually in a 16‐km to 24‐km zone around the perimeter of the epizootic, which encompasses a geographic area >4 × 105 km2. The ORV program successfully halted expansion of the epizootic into metropolitan areas but has not achieved the ultimate goal of eradication. Rabies activity in gray fox continues to occur periodically outside the ORV zone, preventing ORV zone contraction and dissipation of the epizootic. We employed a landscape‐genetic approach to assess gray fox population structure and dispersal in the affected area, with the aim of assisting rabies management efforts. No unique genetic clusters or population boundaries were detected. Instead, foxes were weakly structured over the entire region in an isolation by distance pattern. Local subpopulations appeared to be genetically non‐independent over distances >30 km, implying that long‐distance movements or dispersal may have been common in the region. We concluded that gray foxes in west‐central Texas have a high potential for long‐distance rabies virus trafficking. Thus, a 16‐km to 24‐km ORV zone may be too narrow to contain the fox rabies epizootic. Continued expansion of the ORV zone, although costly, may be critical to the long‐term goal of eliminating the Texas fox rabies virus variant from the United States.

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) alter ecosystems, affect the economy, and carry diseases that can be transmitted to livestock, humans, and wildlife. Understanding wild pig movements and population structure data, including natural population boundaries and dispersal, may potentially increase the efficiency and effectiveness of management actions. We trapped, conducted aerial shootings, and hunted wild pigs from 2005 to 2009 in southern Texas. We used microsatellites to assist large-scale applied management. We quantify broad-scale population structure among 24 sites across southern Texas by computing an overall FST value, and a Bayesian clustering algorithm both with and without considering the spatial location of samples. At a broad geographic scale, pig populations displayed a moderate degree of genetic structure (FST = 0.11). The best partition for number of populations, based on 2nd order rate of change of the likelihood distribution, was K = 10 genetic clusters. The spatially explicit Bayesian clustering algorithm produced similar results, with minor differences in designation of admixed sites. We found evidence of past (and possibly ongoing) translocations; many populations were admixed. Our original goal was to identify landscape features, such as barriers or dispersal corridors, that could be used to aid management. Unfortunately, the extensive admixture among clusters made this impossible. This research shows that large-scale management of wild pigs may be necessary to achieve control and ameliorate damages. Reduction or cessation of translocations is necessary to prevent human-mediated dispersion of wild pigs.

Context Feral pigs represent a significant threat to agriculture and ecosystems and are disease reservoirs for pathogens affecting humans, livestock and other wildlife. Information on the behavioural ecology of feral pigs might increase the efficiency and effectiveness of management strategies. Aims We assessed the frequency of promiscuous mating in relation to oestrous synchrony in feral pigs from southern Texas, USA, an agroecosystem with a widespread and well established population of feral pigs. An association between multiple paternity of single litters and synchrony of oestrous may indicate alternative mating strategies, such as mate-guarding. Methods We collected gravid sows at nine sites in southern Texas during 2005–07. We used a panel of DNA microsatellite markers to estimate frequency of multiple paternity and the distribution of male mating among litters of feral pigs. Conception dates were determined by fitting average fetal crown–rump measurements within litters to expected fetal development relative to gestation time. Key results We found evidence of multiple paternity in 21 of 64 litters (33%) from seven of nine sites sampled. Synchrony of oestrous did not influence promiscuous mating, as we found multiple paternity at sites with synchronous and asynchronous oestrous. Males sired from 8 to 11 offspring at three sites where >10 litters were sampled. Mean litter size (5.4) was less than the best-fit value for the number of offspring, indicating that some males sired offspring with ≥ 2 females. Key conclusions Feral pigs in Texas appear to be promiscuous under a range of demographic conditions, unlike wild boar and feral pigs in other regions. The ecological and behavioural factors affecting multiple paternity are not clear, but may include male–male competition, harassment avoidance, genetic benefits for offspring, response to macro-habitat conditions, or selection. Implications A high incidence of sexual contact among individuals may increase the opportunity for diseases transmitted by oral or venereal routes, such as swine brucellosis and pseudorabies. In addition, fertility-control methods targeting males only are likely to be inefficient if female promiscuity is high; methods targeting females or both sexes jointly may be more effective.

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A study was initiated in 2005 to examine the ecology of gray fox in Texas, to assist the oral rabies vaccination program. The study's objectives are to examine space use and long-distance movements of radio-collared foxes, and to provide landscape-level ecological assessment of fox dispersal and the factors that influence it. Concurrently, GIS habitat layers being built will assist in understanding fox movement and gene flow.

Explanations for variation in fetal sex ratio are needed to better understand the white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) life‐history strategy. Sex determination in fetal white‐tailed deer is often based on external morphology and previous studies indicate that fetal sex does not become morphologically distinct until 63–69 days postconception. Until the advent of molecular techniques, there was no means to evaluate observer accuracy or to determine whether fetal sexing is feasible at <63 days postconception. We collected fetuses from wild deer in Mississippi, USA during spring 2008 (n = 55) and 2009 (n = 88) and measured fetal sex classification among 3 groups of observers with differing levels of experience: an inexperienced group (n = 31), an experienced group (n = 3), and a wildlife biologist group (n = 12). We then determined fetal sex using sex‐linked genetic markers and modeled observer accuracy using logistic regression. The inexperienced group required fetuses aged 63 days, 67 days, and 75 days old to correctly classify with 90%, 95%, and 99% accuracy, respectively. The experienced group correctly sexed fetuses at 54 days, 55 days, and 56 days old with 90%, 95%, and 99% accuracy, respectively. The wildlife biologists correctly sexed fetuses at 55 days, 57 days, and 59 days old with 90%, 95%, and 99% accuracy, respectively. Our study was the first to use known‐sex fetuses to estimate observer accuracy of fetal white‐tailed deer at various ages. Our results suggest training observers to recognize fetal tissue development can improve classification accuracy. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.