Short-term Home Range and Habitat Selection by Feral Hogs in Northern Texas

Franckowiak, Gregory A.; Poché, Richard M.

doi:10.1674/0003-0031-179.1.28

Cited by 11 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The role of movement in PrV exposure observed here corroborates previous observations that dispersal (both natural and anthropogenic) increases contact rates between pathogen-exposed and susceptible individuals, which contributes to disease spread at the population level (e.g., Zanardi et al 2003 ; Hampton et al 2006 ; Keuling et al 2008 ; Pearson et al 2014 ; Franckowiak and Poché 2018 ). In Florida, wild pig dispersal has been strongly influenced by successive events of human-assisted movement that have contributed to the geographical expansion of wild pigs throughout the Kissimmee Valley and adjacent regions (Hernández et al 2018 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…In contrast, water, thermal refugia, and highly preferred food resources are limited in open canopy (i.e., pine, prairie, and scrub) habitat, relative to hardwood forest and freshwater wetland habitats (Mayer and Brisbin Jr 2009 ; Saito et al 2012 ; Keiter and Beasley 2017 ). However, the temporal patchiness of resources, either as food (Kurz and Marchinton 1972 ; Hughes 1985 ) or refugia from hunting (Gaston et al 2008 ; Franckowiak and Poché 2018 ), within open canopy habitat may mimic the supplemental resources provided by agricultural areas in elevating local concentrations of wild pigs around discrete resources. This apparent role of small-scale distribution of resources in modulating disease transmission is bolstered by our finding that increasing agricultural cover reversed the effect of open canopy on PrV exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of the risk of pathogen spill-over to other species, the findings presented here have direct implications to carnivore conservation. Movement of wild pigs infected with directly transmitted or water-borne pathogens has the potential to increase the risk of infection for other sympatric species (Hampton et al 2006 ; Franckowiak and Poché 2018 ), and PrV is highly lethal to mammalian carnivores (Stallknecht and Howerth 2008 ). The results of this study suggest that patterns of wild pig dispersal and land cover composition may be used to predict habitats that present a high risk for cross-species transmission of PrV to endangered carnivores such as the Florida panther.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dispersal and Land Cover Contribute to Pseudorabies Virus Exposure in Invasive Wild Pigs

et al. 2020

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We investigated the landscape epidemiology of a globally distributed mammal, the wild pig (Sus scrofa), in Florida (U.S.), where it is considered an invasive species and reservoir to pathogens that impact the health of people, domestic animals, and wildlife. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that two commonly cited factors in disease transmission, connectivity among populations and abundant resources, would increase the likelihood of exposure to both pseudorabies virus (PrV) and Brucella spp. (bacterial agent of brucellosis) in wild pigs across the Kissimmee Valley of Florida. Using DNA from 348 wild pigs and sera from 320 individuals at 24 sites, we employed population genetic techniques to infer individual dispersal, and an Akaike information criterion framework to compare candidate logistic regression models that incorporated both dispersal and land cover composition. Our findings suggested that recent dispersal conferred higher odds of exposure to PrV, but not Brucella spp., among wild pigs throughout the Kissimmee Valley region. Odds of exposure also increased in association with agriculture and open canopy pine, prairie, and scrub habitats, likely because of highly localized resources within those land cover types. Because the effect of open canopy on PrV exposure reversed when agricultural cover was available, we suggest that small-scale resource distribution may be more important than overall resource abundance. Our results underscore the importance of studying and managing disease dynamics through multiple processes and spatial scales, particularly for non-native pathogens that threaten wildlife conservation, economy, and public health.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dispersal and Land Cover Contribute to Pseudorabies Virus Exposure in Invasive Wild Pigs

et al. 2020

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“…Data collected from pigs fitted with GPS technology can further assist managers in understanding what factors may influence landscape-use by wild pigs [ 57 – 59 ], which could aid in determining the placement of toxicant-baited feeders and the recovery of the carcasses of pigs succumbing to toxicants. The findings of [ 60 ] suggest that the average home range of wild pigs (15.13 ± 3.49 km 2 ), at the study sites used in the current study, are comparable or smaller than some of the home range sizes in 1) other areas in Texas, 2) other wild pig-endemic U.S states, and 3) other pig-endemic countries, but that home range sizes in Davis Mountains, Texas (34 km 2 ); the Northern Territory, Australia (24.1 km 2 ); and in Kent Country, Texas (23.1 km 2 ) might on average be larger than during the current study [ 61 ]. External factors such as nutrient availability [ 62 ], rainfall [ 63 ] and temperature [ 64 ] may influence wild pig home range size.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Field evaluation of low-dose warfarin baits to control wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in North Texas

Poché

Franckowiak

et al. 2018

PLoS ONE

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Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a highly detrimental invasive species that occupy a rapidly expanding range within the United States. In Australia, field trials evaluating baits containing 0.09% warfarin resulted in wild pig population reduction >95%. The objective of this study was to conduct an EPA-approved field trial to evaluate the use of bait containing low-dose warfarin (0.01% and 0.005%) in reducing wild pig numbers in Texas. An 8-week field test was conducted in the panhandle ~100 km southeast of Amarillo. Two ~8 km2 treatment plots were selected and each presented with either 0.01% or 0.005% warfarin baits. One control plot (~8 km2) was presented placebo. The baits were delivered using 30 species-specific feeders per plot (n = 90) that kept wildlife from accessing the toxicant. Pig movements and feed consumption were monitored during pre-treatment, treatment, and post-treatment periods. All pigs with VHF transmitters within the 0.005% warfarin-treated plot (n = 14) succumbed to the warfarin (100% mortality). Overall, 35 wild pigs were found dead from warfarin toxicosis, within both treatment plots. Total feed consumption by wild pigs was reduced by ~97.8% and ~96.2% for the 0.005% and 0.01% warfarin baited plots, respectively, indicating the absence of pigs was a result of toxic bait consumption. Results of 97 systematic searches of the treatment plots indicated no warfarin-induced non-target wildlife fatalities. Warfarin residues in wild pig livers averaged 3.69 mg/kg (n = 13) and 2.89 mg/kg (n = 9) for pigs recovered within the 0.005% plot and 0.01% warfarin plot, respectively. This study is the first efficacy field evaluation of a wild pig toxicant conducted in the US. The results suggest low-dose warfarin bait, presented in species-specific feeders, can effectively reduce wild pig numbers and pose minimal risk to non-target wildlife and domestic animals. A product containing warfarin may provide another management tool in reducing wild pig problems.

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“…The possibility of confounding environmental variables was possible but not probable, as our sampling of both harvest treatments occurred across the geographic breadth of the state and primarily on public lands. As habitat generalists, wild pigs are found in virtually every habitat type in Florida, but tend to concentrate in areas with canopy cover [37] and in areas that offer supplemental sources of feed (e.g., agriculture [66,77,78]) or temporary refugia from hunting [64,79]. If habitat type were a confounding variable that influenced population density and therefore disease prevalence, then we would expect land cover associated with increased density (e.g., agriculture) to have been higher in dog-hunted sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildlife Management Practices Associated with Pathogen Exposure in Non-Native Wild Pigs in Florida, U.S.

Carr

Milleson

Hernández

et al. 2018

Viruses

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Land use influences disease emergence by changing the ecological dynamics of humans, wildlife, domestic animals, and pathogens. This is a central tenet of One Health, and one that is gaining momentum in wildlife management decision-making in the United States. Using almost 2000 serological samples collected from non-native wild pigs (Sus scrofa) throughout Florida (U.S.), we compared the prevalence and exposure risk of two directly transmitted pathogens, pseudorabies virus (PrV) and Brucella spp., to test the hypothesis that disease emergence would be positively correlated with one of the most basic wildlife management operations: Hunting. The seroprevalence of PrV-Brucella spp. coinfection or PrV alone was higher for wild pigs in land management areas that allowed hunting with dogs than in areas that culled animals using other harvest methods. This pattern did not hold for Brucella alone. The likelihood of exposure to PrV, but not Brucella spp., was also significantly higher among wild pigs at hunted sites than at sites where animals were culled. By failing to consider the impact of dog hunting on the emergence of non-native pathogens, current animal management practices have the potential to affect public health, the commercial livestock industry, and wildlife conservation.

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Short-term Home Range and Habitat Selection by Feral Hogs in Northern Texas

Cited by 11 publications

References 31 publications

Dispersal and Land Cover Contribute to Pseudorabies Virus Exposure in Invasive Wild Pigs

Dispersal and Land Cover Contribute to Pseudorabies Virus Exposure in Invasive Wild Pigs

Field evaluation of low-dose warfarin baits to control wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in North Texas

Wildlife Management Practices Associated with Pathogen Exposure in Non-Native Wild Pigs in Florida, U.S.

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