Damage reduction estimates and benefit-cost ratios for feral swine control from the last remnant of a basin marsh system in Florida

Engeman, Richard M.; Smith, Henry T.; Severson, Robert; Severson, Mary A.; Woolard, John; Shwiff, Stephanie A.; Constantin, Bernice; Griffin, D.

doi:10.1017/s0376892904001572

Cited by 28 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The latter include damage to crops and livestock, spread of diseases, vehicle collisions and reduction in plant and animal abundance and richness (e.g. Hone 2002;Engeman et al 2004;Massei and Genov 2004;Conover 2007). Although the species can be controlled through hunting (Massei et al 2011), it is essential to evaluate different options to manage overabundant populations, particularly in urban and/or protected areas where culling is unfeasible or undesirable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term effects of immunocontraception on wild boar fertility, physiology and behaviour

et al. 2012

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Context. Fertility control appears as a publicly acceptable alternative to lethal methods for limiting population growth in wildlife. Recently developed single-dose immunocontraceptive vaccines have induced infertility in several mammals. However, the potential side-effects and the long-term effectiveness of these contraceptives have been poorly investigated.Aims. We tested the long-term effectiveness and potential side-effects of the single-dose gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine GonaConÔ on captive female wild boar.Methods. We carried out two sequential trials: Trial 1 (n = 6 GonaConÔ-treated and 6 control wild boar) and Trial 2 which started two years later and replicated Trial 1. We assessed the effectiveness of GonaConÔ to cause infertility by measuring GnRH antibody titres, by monitoring the oestrous cycle through the concentration of faecal progesterone and by recording the sows' reproductive output in the 4-6 years following treatment. We evaluated the potential side-effects by monitoring behaviour, bodyweight and haematological and biochemical variables.Key results. GnRH-antibody titres decreased with time but were still detectable in all females six years after vaccination with a single dose of GonaConÔ. In Trial 1 none of the treated females gave birth in the six years after vaccination. In Trial 2, progesterone indicated that two of the six treated females were cycling. One of the cycling treated females gave birth one year after vaccination; the other five, including the second cycling sow, did not reproduce in the four years following vaccination. We found no differences in bodyweight, haematology, biochemistry and behaviour and no obvious sign of injection site reaction.Conclusions. GonaConÔ can suppress reproduction in wild boar with no long-term effects on behaviour and physiology. Therefore, GonaConÔ can be regarded as an effective and safe contraceptive for this species.Implications. The lack of evidence of adverse effects and the longevity of effect of GonaConÔ suggest that this contraceptive could be now tested in field trials and in contexts where culling of overabundant populations of wild boar is unfeasible, illegal or unacceptable. These instances include urban areas, parks, and management of diseases where culling might cause social perturbation and result in increased disease transmission rates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term effects of immunocontraception on wild boar fertility, physiology and behaviour

et al. 2012

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“…While recreational hunting imposes a source of mortality to feral swine populations, hunters do not target all population demographics equally, potentially limiting the severity of population reduction (Braga et al 2010;Festa-Bianchet 2007;Keuling et al 2013;Plhal et al 2011). In contrast, a control program targets all demographics and typically is cost-effective (Engeman et al 2003(Engeman et al , 2004b(Engeman et al , 2007a(Engeman et al , b, 2010), yet it requires consistent application to be effective . Second, the efficacy of control as applied at APAFR decreased the population to a point, but did not sustain a continued decline, due primarily to limitations on the control effort during hunting seasons, permitting issues, restricted access due to military missions .…”

Section: Discussion Population Control and Damagementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, reducing or preventing damage to special plant communities will likely be dependent upon repeated and unrelenting control of the feral swine population. Feral swine control has been found to be highly cost-effective elsewhere for protecting special plant communities (Engeman et al 2003(Engeman et al , 2004b(Engeman et al , 2007a, and would likely be so at APAFR if consistently applied. In Florida, feral swine are ubiquitous and pose a constant threat of immigration into nearby areas where their populations have been reduced by control efforts.…”

Section: Considerations For Protecting the Rare Plant Communities Fromentioning

confidence: 99%

Feral swine damage to globally imperiled wetland plant communities in a significant biodiversity hotspot in Florida

et al. 2016

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We studied rooting damage during five-years of feral swine control at Avon Park Air Force Range, a significant botanical biodiversity hotspot in peninsular Florida with many globally imperiled plant species and communities. While control reduced swine abundance, remaining animals consistently rooted the 49 studied sites in both middle-dry season (MDS) and late-dry season (LDS) each year. At each study site, we measured rooting with sub-meter accuracy. Neither total nor proportional area rooted differed in either season, across study years, or among plant community types: herbaceous seepage slopes, wet pine savannas, wet grasslands. The proportion of sites with damage during MDS was at least 25 % less than pre-control baseline. During LDS, the proportion of sites with damage increased over years but remained below the initial 2 years' MDS results. Fresh rooting frequency (rooting \1 week-old) across sites dropped precipitously from baseline and remained low for MDS. Fresh rooting frequency among sites during LDS was lower than MDS for all but year two of the study. Canopied habitat \50 m from a study site almost guaranteed rooting at the site each observation period. We propose actions for protecting wetlands, integrating swine control into other compatible land use practices, and improving swine control efficacy. While we measured damage amounts at each site very accurately, our approach of also considering frequency of rooting and frequency of fresh rooting across sites offers low-labor means to broadly assess swine damage and control Communicated by

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“…Repair costs and restoration costs are typically used as the valuation method for damages categorized as destruction . Finally, restoration costs, rehabilitation costs, lost recreational opportunities, or nonmarket values are often used to quantify economic damages to ecosystems and wildlife (Engeman et al 2004a.…”

Section: Methods Of Valuation Primary Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Damage to marshes and parks by feral swine has also been noted (Engeman et al , 2004aPimentel et al 2005), including damage to priceless archaeological sites . Another commonly reported form of property damage is vehicle collisions involving feral swine.…”

Section: Destructionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Policy and Regulation

Williams¹

2017

Ecology and Management of Terrestrial Vertebrate Invasive Species in the United States

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Damage reduction estimates and benefit-cost ratios for feral swine control from the last remnant of a basin marsh system in Florida

Cited by 28 publications

References 9 publications

Long-term effects of immunocontraception on wild boar fertility, physiology and behaviour

Long-term effects of immunocontraception on wild boar fertility, physiology and behaviour

Feral swine damage to globally imperiled wetland plant communities in a significant biodiversity hotspot in Florida

Policy and Regulation

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