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There is insufficient understanding of interspecific interactions with the eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) and wild pigs (Sus scrofa). Wild pigs compete with wild turkeys and predate nests and adults; however, population‐level effects on wild turkeys are not clear. Using cameras, we assessed responses of wild turkey populations to wild pig removal in central Alabama, USA, from 2018–2021. We compared wild turkey relative abundance and occupancy on 3 large‐scale pig‐removal treatment sites (3,407–5,531 ha) relative to a control site (2,510 ha) during 1 pre‐treatment year and 2 post‐treatment years, with analyses including a covariate expressing the cumulative number of pigs removed from each site standardized by the initial pig abundance on the site. We removed 1,851 wild pigs from the 3 treatment sites over 22 months. Based on N‐mixture modeling, when the number of pigs removed was equal to our baseline population estimates (i.e., 100% removal relative to initial population), there were 1.50 (95% CL = 1.01–2.23) times as many wild turkeys, and detection of wild turkeys was 2.01 (95% CL = 1.49–2.70) times as likely. Additionally, poults were 3.49 (95% CL = 1.12–10.89) times as likely to occupy an area when the number of pigs removed was equal to our baseline population estimates compared with poult occupancy at baseline pig abundance. Our data suggests that reduction of wild pig populations may lead to a localized increase in populations of wild turkeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality deer management (QDM) is the preeminent framework by which white-tailed deer are managed in the eastern USA. Historic differences surrounding the cultures, traditions, and regulations of deer hunting exist regionally between the Midwest and Southeast, yet no published study has investigated regional differences in attitudes and opinions of QDM among deer hunters. We surveyed 9,301 deer hunters across two Midwestern states (Missouri and Ohio) and two Southeastern states (Louisiana and South Carolina) and found that hunters across regions held similar motivations for deer hunting, as well as similar attitudes and opinions of strategies and expected outcomes of QDM. However, there existed several mismatches between the practices and ideology associated with QDM among Southeastern hunters. Southeastern hunters held greater support for greater antlered bag limits, protection of does, and supplemental feeding. We postulate that these mismatches are largely driven by regional differences in cultures, traditions, and regulations surrounding deer hunting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. With the range expansion of invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in North America during the past decades, there has been an increasing concern with how wild pigs affect native species. An abundance of research on their impacts has been through the lens of damage to anthropogenic resources and plant communities. However, quantitative research on how wild pigs affect populations of native animal species is an understudied topic. Aims. Our goal was to assess how wild pigs affect white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at a population level by measuring changes in deer abundance as wild pigs are removed. White-tailed deer are an economically valuable game species in North America, and negative impacts of wild pigs on their populations could have trickle-down impacts on conservation funding for all wildlife. Methods. On three treatment areas (34.07–55.31 km2) and one control area (25.10 km2), we used N-mixture models to compare data from camera-trap surveys of white-tailed deer before and after wild pigs were removed from treatment areas. Key results. We removed 1851 pigs from the treatment sites between May 2019 and March 2021. We found that wild pigs did not significantly affect white-tailed deer abundance, but that white-tailed deer were 1.12 (1.02–1.23; 95% CL) times as likely to be detected when the number of pigs removed was equal to our baseline population estimates compared with when no pigs were removed. Although results from similar analyses on separate age and sex classes of white-tailed deer exhibited similar results, analyses of impacts on immature males differed. Conclusions. Our overall results are congruent with those of other research that suggest that wild pigs affect white-tailed deer behaviour at a local scale, although eliminating pigs from an area does not appear to quickly lead to increased abundance of deer. Implications. Although the interspecific interactions between white-tailed deer and wild pigs are unlikely to lead to a decline in the population of white-tailed deer, removing wild pigs may decrease the behavioural implications of these interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are among the most detrimental invasive species in the USA. They are damaging to crops and agriculture, pose a public health risk as reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens, and may also spread disease to livestock. One pathogen identified in wild pigs is bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a virus that causes an economically important disease of cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus). We sought to determine the BVDV seroprevalence in wild pigs in 17 states across the US and to determine whether age category, sex, or location were associated with a positive antibody titer. Serum samples from 945 wild pigs were collected from 17 US states. Virus neutralization assays were performed to determine antibody titers against BVDV-1b and BVDV-2a. Total BVDV seroprevalence for the study area was 5.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.11-8.89). Seroprevalence across all evaluated states was determined to be 4.4% (95% CI, 2.48-6.82) for BVDV-1b and 3.6% (95% CI, 1.54-5.60) for BVDV-2a. The seroprevalence for individual states varied from 0% to 16.7%. There was no statistical difference in median antibody titer for BVDV-1b or BVDV-2a by sex or age category. State seroprevalences for both BVDV-1b and BVDV-2a were associated with wild pig population estimates for those states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]