Invasive Wild Pigs in North America: Ecology, Impacts, and Management

Throughout North America, non-native wild pigs have become an ecologically and economically destructive invasive species. Though they are regarded as a popular game species by some, provide economic benefits to others, and are even engrained into societal heritage in some areas, wild pigs are responsible for an extraordinary amount of damage in both natural and anthropogenic systems throughout North America. As the density and range of wild pig habitat have substantially increased over the last several decades, the magnitude and diversity of their negative impacts are not yet fully realized or quantified. With various conflicts continually emerging, wild pig management is difficult and expensive to achieve. As a result, wild pigs represent one of the greatest wildlife management challenges North America faces in the 21st century. Invasive Wild Pigs in North America: Ecology, Impacts, and Management addresses all aspects of wild pig biology, ecology, damage, and management in a single comprehensive volume. It assimilates and organizes information on the most destructive introduced vertebrate species in the United States, establishing a foundation from which managers, researchers, policy makers, and other stakeholders can build upon into the future. The book provides comprehensive coverage of wild pig biology and ecology, techniques for management and research, and regional chapters. It is an asset to readers interested in wild pigs, the resources they impact, and how to mitigate those impacts, and establishes a vision of the future of wild pigs in North America. Features: Compiles valuable knowledge for a broad audience including wild pig managers, researchers, adversaries, and enthusiasts from across North America Addresses taxonomy, morphology, genetics, physiology, spatial ecology, population dynamics, diseases and parasites, and the naturalized niche of wild pigs Includes chapters on damage to resources, management, research methods, human dimensions and education, and policy and legislation Contains full color images and case studies of interesting and informative situations being created by wild pigs throughout North America Includes a chapter on wild pigs at the wildland–urban interface, a more recent and especially challenging issue

Table of Contents:
Foreword: The Dilemma with Wild Pigs in North America Acknowledgments Editors Contributors Chapter 1 Introduction Kurt C. VerCauteren, John J. Mayer, James C. Beasley, Stephen S. Ditchkoff, Gary J. Roloff, and Bronson K. Strickland Chapter 2 Wild Pig Taxonomy, Morphology, Genetics, and Physiology John J. Mayer, Timothy J. Smyser, Antoinette J. Piaggio, and Stam M. Zervanos Chapter 3 Wild Pig Spatial Ecology and Behavior Steven M. Gray, Gary J. Roloff, Robert A. Montgomery, James C. Beasley, and Kim M. Pepin Chapter 4 Wild Pig Population Dynamics Nathan P. Snow, Ryan S. Miller, James C. Beasley, and Kim M. Pepin Chapter 5 Diseases and Parasites That Impact Wild Pigs and Species They Contact Joseph L. Corn and Michael J. Yabsley Chapter 6 The Naturalized Niche of Wild Pigs in North America Peter E. Schlichting, James C. Beasley, and Kurt C. VerCauteren Chapter 7 Wild Pig Damage to Resources Bronson K. Strickland, Mark D. Smith, and Andrew L. Smith Chapter 8 Management of Wild Pigs Stephen S. Ditchkoff and Michael J. Bodenchuk Chapter 9 Research Methods for Wild Pigs James C. Beasley, Michael J. Lavelle, David A. Keiter, Kim M. Pepin, Antoinette J. Piaggio, John C. Kilgo, and Kurt C. VerCauteren Chapter 10 Human Dimensions and Education Associated with Wild Pigs in North America Michael T. Mengak and Craig A. Miller Chapter 11 Wild Pig Policy and Legislation Andrew L. Smith Chapter 12 Wild Pigs in Western North America Michael P. Glow, John J. Mayer, Bethany A. Friesenhahn, and Kurt C. VerCauteren Chapter 13 Wild Pigs in North-Central North America Ryan K. Brook and Michael P. Glow Chapter 14 Wild Pigs in Northeastern North America Dwayne R. Etter, Melissa Nichols, and Karmen M. Hollis-Etter Chapter 15 Wild Pigs in South-Central North America Joshua A. Gaskamp, James C. Cathey, Billy Higginbotham, and Michael J. Bodenchuk Chapter 16 Wild Pigs in Southeastern North America John J. Mayer, James C. Beasley, Raoul K. Boughton, and Stephen S. Ditchkoff Chapter 17 Wild Pigs in the Pacific Islands Steven C. Hess, Nathaniel H. Wehr, and Creighton M. Litton Chapter 18 Wild Pigs in Mexico and the Caribbean J. Alfonso Ortega-S, Johanna Delgado-Acevedo, Jorge G. Villarreal-González, Rafael Borroto-Páez, and Roberto Tamez-González Chapter 19 Wild Pig Populations along the Urban Gradient Jesse S. Lewis, Kurt C. VerCauteren, Robert M. Denkhaus, and John J. Mayer Chapter 20 The Future of Wild Pigs in North America Stephen S. Ditchkoff, James C. Beasley, John J. Mayer, Gary J. Roloff, Bronson K. Strickland, and Kurt C. VerCauteren Index