Evaluation of movement behaviors to inform toxic baiting strategies for invasive wild pigs (<i>Sus scrofa</i>)

Lavelle, Michael J.; Snow, Nathan P.; Halseth, Joseph M.; Sanders, Heather N.; VerCauteren, Kurt C.

doi:10.1002/ps.4929

Cited by 19 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 41 publications

(100 reference statements)

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“…We laid 0.75 km 2 grids over each of the three areas. We used this grid size so that any wild pig living within the grids should encounter one or more bait sites per 0.75 km 2 , based on previous studies . Initially we overlaid 12–15 grid cells in each of the three baiting areas of Camp Bullis, and pre‐baited two or three sites within each grid cell using 11.3 kg of whole‐kernel corn at each site ( n = 80 bait sites total; Table ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ultimately, our goal was to have independent family groups consistently visiting each of the 30 final bait sites. We focused on maximizing the number of family groups visiting bait sites because removing females and juveniles would lead to the greatest reduction in the population of wild pigs, and would be the most efficient method for using a toxic bait for wild pigs …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On day 8, we deployed wild pig‐specific bait stations at all 30 of the baiting sites. Each bait station (137 cm length × 36 cm width × 17 cm height) consisted of two back‐to‐back troughs with overhanging lids that could be positioned from propped completely open to secured closed with 13 kg of magnetic resistance . We secured bait stations to the ground by wiring the handles to two T‐posts to prevent flipping or removal by wild pigs.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We secured bait stations to the ground by wiring the handles to two T‐posts to prevent flipping or removal by wild pigs. We also began implementing a baiting strategy with deliberate stages for accustoming wild pigs to using the bait station and consuming placebo bait (Table ) . Placebo bait consisted of a black, peanut paste with crushed grains .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A wild pig‐specific bait station has also been developed that successfully excludes non‐target species, including the capable and ubiquitous raccoon ( Procyon lotor ), preventing non‐target species from directly accessing the toxic bait inside the bait stations while still allowing access by wild pigs . Usage of the bait station by wild pigs, however, required a 2–3‐week pre‐baiting period for pigs to become accustomed to the bait station . Notwithstanding these findings, no studies have directly evaluated the potential for SN toxic bait on a population of free‐ranging wild pigs using a bait station.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exposure of a population of invasive wild pigs to simulated toxic bait containing biomarker: implications for population reduction

Snow

Lavelle

Halseth

et al. 2018

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND An international effort to develop an acute and humane toxic bait for invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) is underway to curtail their expansion. We evaluated the ability to expose a population of wild pigs to a simulated toxic bait (i.e., placebo bait containing a biomarker, rhodamine B, in lieu of the toxic ingredient) to gain insight on potential population reduction. We used 28 GPS‐collars and sampled 428 wild pigs to examine their vibrissae for evidence of consuming the bait. RESULTS We estimated that 91% of wild pigs within 0.75 km of bait sites (total area = 16.8 km2) consumed the simulated toxic bait, exposing them to possible lethal effects. Bait sites spaced 0.75–1.5 km apart achieved optimal delivery of the bait, but wild pigs ranging ≥ 3 km away were susceptible. Use of wild pig‐specific bait stations resulted in no non‐target species directly accessing the bait. CONCLUSION Results demonstrate the potential for exposing a large proportion of wild pigs to a toxic bait in similar ecosystems. Toxic baits may be an effective tool for reducing wild pig populations especially if used as part of an integrated pest management strategy. Investigation of risks associated with a field‐deployment of the toxic bait is needed. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Exposure of a population of invasive wild pigs to simulated toxic bait containing biomarker: implications for population reduction

Snow

Lavelle

Halseth

et al. 2018

Pest Management Science

Self Cite

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Predicting functional responses in agro‐ecosystems from animal movement data to improve management of invasive pests

Wilber

Chinn

Beasley

et al. 2019

Ecological Applications

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Functional responses describe how changing resource availability affects consumer resource use, thus providing a mechanistic approach to prediction of the invasibility and potential damage of invasive alien species (IAS). However, functional responses can be context dependent, varying with resource characteristics and availability, consumer attributes, and environmental variables. Identifying context dependencies can allow invasion and damage risk to be predicted across different ecoregions. Understanding how ecological factors shape the functional response in agro‐ecosystems can improve predictions of hotspots of highest impact and inform strategies to mitigate damage across locations with varying crop types and availability. We linked heterogeneous movement data across different agro‐ecosystems to predict ecologically driven variability in the functional responses. We applied our approach to wild pigs (Sus scrofa), one of the most successful and detrimental IAS worldwide where agricultural resource depredation is an important driver of spread and establishment. We used continental‐scale movement data within agro‐ecosystems to quantify the functional response of agricultural resources relative to availability of crops and natural forage. We hypothesized that wild pigs would selectively use crops more often when natural forage resources were low. We also examined how individual attributes such as sex, crop type, and resource stimulus such as distance to crops altered the magnitude of the functional response. There was a strong agricultural functional response where crop use was an accelerating function of crop availability at low density (Type III) and was highly context dependent. As hypothesized, there was a reduced response of crop use with increasing crop availability when non‐agricultural resources were more available, emphasizing that crop damage levels are likely to be highly heterogeneous depending on surrounding natural resources and temporal availability of crops. We found significant effects of crop type and sex, with males spending 20% more time and visiting crops 58% more often than females, and both sexes showing different functional responses depending on crop type. Our application demonstrates how commonly collected animal movement data can be used to understand context dependencies in resource use to improve our understanding of pest foraging behavior, with implications for prioritizing spatiotemporal hotspots of potential economic loss in agro‐ecosystems.

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Behavioral states in space and time: understanding landscape use by an invasive mammal

et al. 2022

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Animal movement models can be used to understand species behavior and assist with implementation of management activities. We explored behavioral states of an invasive wild pig (Sus scrofa) population that recently colonized central Michigan, USA, 2014–2018. To quantify environmental factors related to wild pig movement ecology and spatio‐temporal landscape use, we predicted wild pig behavioral states relative to land cover type, landscape structure (i.e., edge and patch cohesion), and weather conditions. We used global positioning system (GPS)‐collars and monitored 8 wild pigs from 2014–2018. We fit local convex hulls and calculated movement metrics revealing 3 wild pig behavioral states (resting, exploratory, and relocating) and constructed a 3‐level model to predict behavioral state probabilities relative to biotic and abiotic conditions. Probabilities of exploratory and resting behaviors were higher nearer to riparian and open herbaceous cover types (oftentimes emergent marsh), indicating that these cover types provided security cover during activity and bedding. Hard mast cover types had a strong positive association with relocating behaviors. More cohesive patches of agriculture and shrub cover types were associated with higher probabilities of exploratory behaviors, while resting was more likely in continuous patches of agriculture (mostly mid‐summer corn). The probability of exploratory behaviors increased exponentially with warming ambient temperature. Our results may be used by managers to develop control strategies conducive to landscape and environmental conditions where the likelihood of encountering wild pigs is highest or targeting wild pigs when in a behavioral state most vulnerable to a particular removal technique.

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Evaluation of movement behaviors to inform toxic baiting strategies for invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa)

Abstract: These results demonstrate the potential for toxic bait to be an effective tool for reducing populations of wild pigs with minimal risks to non-target species, if optimized delivery procedures are followed. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cited by 19 publications

References 41 publications

Exposure of a population of invasive wild pigs to simulated toxic bait containing biomarker: implications for population reduction

Exposure of a population of invasive wild pigs to simulated toxic bait containing biomarker: implications for population reduction

Predicting functional responses in agro‐ecosystems from animal movement data to improve management of invasive pests

Behavioral states in space and time: understanding landscape use by an invasive mammal

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