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Human–Wildlife Interactions
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Hunter Motivations and Use of Wild Pigs in Texas, USA
Date of this Version
Spring 2021
Document Type
Article
Citation
Human–Wildlife Interactions (Spring 2021) 15(1): article 8
doi: 10.26077/a31f-af48
Special topic: Wild pigs
Abstract
Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a widespread exotic, invasive species that pose ecological, agricultural, and human health risks in their invaded range. Wildlife managers must manage wild pig abundance and range expansion to mitigate these risks. The diversity of stakeholders involved in the issue of wild pig management complicates efforts to manage the species, and, to be successful, wildlife professionals must consider the human dimensions associated with wild pig management. The prevalence of privately owned lands in Texas, USA necessitates cooperation to enact effective management policies. In this study, we investigate the impact of hunter motivations on wild pig harvest quantity. Motivations driving wild pig hunting are diverse. While the majority of wild pig hunters in Texas are motivated by trophy value, meat-motivated hunters harvest more wild pigs per day afield. Wildlife managers should develop plans that include various management techniques to control wild pig population growth and damage. Education and outreach will continue to be important for involving private landowners in effective wild pig management.
Comments
Open access. License: CC BY 4.0