This digital collection includes presentations given at the 8th International Wildlife Ranching Symposium held in 2014 for the symposium theme: Wild and Feral Pigs.
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Browsing Wild and Feral Pigs by Author "Strickland, Bronson, speaker"
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014-09) Strickland, Bronson, speaker; Higginbotham, Billy, moderator; International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, producer
In North America, wild pigs have been a source of conflict since their introduction in the 1500's. The destructive foraging behavior, combined with a diverse omnivorous diet and prodigious reproductive capacity make the wild pig one of the most costly invasive species in North America. Wild pigs directly impact row-crop agriculture, pasture, forest regeneration, and water quality and even depredate juvenile livestock. Wild pigs also cause extensive environmental damage by competing with native wildlife for food, and by depredation of herpetofauna, small mammals, ground-nesting birds, and opportunistically, the young of large mammals. Wild pigs have been linked to the spread of invasive plants and may be changing the species composition of some forests by selective consumption of seeds and seedlings. In many areas, wild pigs are now common in suburban areas causing damage to lawns, landscaping and golf courses. The first step in dealing with a problem is recognizing there is a problem. This presentation will provide the framework and justification for the symposium, and segue to subsequent presentations on proactive techniques landowners and organizations are taking to control this pest. Unfortunately, as wild pig populations continue to expand throughout the U.S. damage and conflict will only increase. This symposium aims to inform the audience of the dangers of ignoring the emerging problem of wild pigs in the U.S. and will propose solutions for stemming their spread.
