Project Manuscript published online in the 31st Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings

In March, a manuscript Wild Pig Behavioral Response to Aerial Gunning in Southwest Georgia, U.S.A., was published online in the 31st Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings. This paper explores wild pig behavior and different intervals before and after a helicopter aerial gunning event in Calhoun County, Georgia. Researchers hypothesized that aerial gunning would result in increased wild pig detections within closed canopy forests and that aerial gunning would affect wild pig activity patterns. As discussed in the manuscript, researchers found evidence to support both predictions.

“I am very happy to see this manuscript published,” says Justine Smith, Wildlife Ecology Graduate Student on the project, who hopes to see this research improve efficacy of wild pig control efforts.

You can read the full manuscript online.

This research and control was conducted as part of the Albany Area Feral Swine Control and Eradication Pilot Project, authorized through the 2018 Farm Bill. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Agreement number NR204310XXXXG001.