Hunting as the main technique used to control wild pigs in Brazil

Abstract

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) have expanded their range in Brazil since late 1980s, with reports of damage becoming more frequent in recent years. In 2013, use of lethal methods for wild pig control was legalized by the federal environmental agency. However, several restrictions related to the purchase and transportation of guns and ammunition hamper the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of control measures. Nevertheless, many citizens engaged in wild pig control in Brazil do not officially report their control activities as required by the legislation. Our goal was to characterize the profile of wild pig controllers in Brazil to understand their methods and motivations, estimate the number of wild pigs killed per person per year, and evaluate current regulations regarding their applicability to the situations observed in the field. We formulated and distributed a structured questionnaire distributed in 2014 and 2015 to pig controllers (n ¼ 172), including both hunters and nonhunters. Respondents reported killing 2,389 wild pigs, and killing an average of 17.2 (SE ¼ 24.8) pigs/respondent/year, with male and female pigs killed in the same proportion. Forty percent of respondents were acting illegally. Hunters primarily controlled wild pigs to defend third-party properties. Volunteers provided most of the effort toward controlling wild pigs in Brazil and farmers suffered most of the impacts. Therefore, we believe that adjusting the approach to use of hunting after crop harvest, or implementing an integrated program of hunting and traps placed around crops, could be an important new management tool for reducing wild pig population and crop damage. Further, to enhance wild pig control in Brazil, we recommend incentivizing use of corral traps and cages because such techniques have the greatest effect on reducing wild pig population. Ó

Optimal bait density for delivery of acute toxicants to vertebrate pests

“…To effectively reduce wild pig populations and damage, managers must be capable of sustained and dramatic reductions (Keuling et al 2013;Mayer 2009;Pepin et al 2017a, b). Methods of control have included toxicants, aerial gunning, trap and remove, hunting, and sharp shooting (Da Rosa et al 2018;Mayer and Brisbin 2009;Queensland 2008). The effectiveness of different methods varies depending on habitat, weather, and population density (Muir and McEwen 2007;Steen 2006).…”

Ticks and serosurvey of anti-Rickettsia spp. antibodies in wild boars (Sus scrofa), hunting dogs and hunters of Brazil

“…Hunting dogs ( Canis familiaris ) have been the most popular method for wild boar tracking and hunting in Brazil [15]. Brazilian rural dogs accessing natural areas have been frequently found to show parasitism for A .…”

Movement responses inform effectiveness and consequences of baiting wild pigs for population control

“…Wild pigs consume agricultural plants (Schley and Roper, 2003;Ditchkoff and Mayer, 2009), costing an estimated annual $USD 1.5 billion in crop damages and control costs in the USA (Pimentel 2007). Populations of wild pigs often are intensively controlled and hunted (Steen, 2006;Gamelon et al, 2012;Ditchkoff et al, 2017;Davis et al, 2018;Rosa et al, 2018) to curtail their extensive damage to agriculture and property, or reduce the risk of disease spread to humans and livestock (Mayer and Brisbin, 2009;Barrios-Garcia and Ballari, 2012;Bevins et al, 2014). In addition, hunting or trapping of wild pigs is also popular throughout most of their distributed range for food or sport (Henry, 1966;Ditchkoff et al, 2017;Rosa et al, 2018).…”