Efficiency of spreading maize in the garrigues to reduce wild boar (Sus scrofa) damage to Mediterranean vineyards

Abstract

The aim of this work was to assess the efficiency of dissuasive spreading of maize to reduce the level of wild boar damage to vines in a Mediterranean area (Pue´chabon, southern France). The 50 wine growers of Pue´chabon were all questioned about the annual losses caused by the wild boar in each vineyard of the study area between 1990 and 1992. We also studied the distribution of the damage on a smaller scale, by mapping the damaged vines within two vineyards. In summer 1993, we distributed 4.7 tons of maize in the woods , and then questioned the wine growers about the losses in each vineyard for 1993. During 1990-1992, on both large and small scales, the damage had a patchy distribution, with more patches of damage occurring close to the woods. Moreover, the later the vines ripened, the less frequent the damage. The severity of the damage was only affected by the distance of the vineyard from woods. In total, the wild boar consumed 20,049 kg of grapes each year between 1990-1992 (193 kg/ha), and 63% of the vineyards were damaged. In 1993, both the density and the compensation paid in the de´partement increased threefold. However, in our study area, both the proportion of damaged vineyards (36%) and the level of damage in the vineyards (151 kg/ha) were reduced, saving more than 60% in compensation. The dissuasive spreading of maize is therefore an efficient tool to reduce the level of damage to vineyards.

Does wild boar rooting affect livestock grazing areas in alpine grasslands?

“…Several studies have contributed to the understanding of the main factors involved in the extent and distribution of wild boar rooting in mountain grasslands (Gallo Orsi et al 1995;Welander 2000a;Bueno et al 2009), but there is little information about the interactions between wild boar rooting and traditional livestock management practices, especially in mountain environments. Livestock grazing appears to influence the occurrence of wild boar rooting in some areas (Bueno et al 2009), but most studies have focused on the impact of wild boar disturbances on crops, rather than livestock (Meriggi and Sacchi 1992;Calenge et al 2004;Wilson 2004;Herrero et al 2006) and, to a lesser extent, on competition between wild boar and livestock for grazing areas (Kuiters et al 2005). The aim of this study is to explore the occurrence of wild boar rooting within livestock grazing areas in alpine grasslands, to determine its likely impact on livestock grazing activities.…”

Una propuesta para considerar aspectos sanitarios en la regulación cinegética

“…Esta suplementación artificial ocurre principalmente con la perdiz roja en caza menor, y con los cérvidos y el jabalí en caza mayor. Por último y más excepcionalmente, existe la alimentación disuasoria para tratar de reducir los daños a cultivos (Calenge et al 2004;Barrio et al 2010). …”

A free and open source programming library for landscape metrics calculations

“…Also, landscape metrics help to model watershed hydrological systems and to identify and analyze possible future impacts on land use pattern and hydrology (Lin et al, 2007). There are studies based on the relationship of landscape structure with the hunting community (Jimenez-Garcia et al, 2006), as well as specific studies on the wild boar (Calenge et al, 2004;Hebeisen et al, 2008;Kaden et al, 2005;Monzón & Bento, 2004;Tsachalidis and Hadjisterkotis, 2008), red-legged partridge (Nadal, 2001;Vargas et al, 2006), ducks (Guillemain et al, 2008), mouflon (Garel et al, 2005), wild rabbit (Schröpfer et al, 2000) and some predators (Rico and Torrente, 2000). Landscape metrics enable this information to be incorporated into a GIS, helping to select potential areas and take appropriate management measures (Coulson et al, 2001).…”