Impact of Gate Width of Corral Traps in Potential Wild Pig Trapping Success Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • 2014 The Wildlife Society. Wild pig (Sus scrofa) populations do considerable environmental damage throughout much of the United States and have prompted varied capture and control efforts. Corral traps are a popular wild pig trapping tool. However, the impact of gate width on the effectiveness of corral traps has not been tested. This information could increase efficacy of capture and is important for future population-control efforts. We hypothesized that wild pigs would habituate better to corral traps with wider gate openings. We used remote game cameras to monitor the willingness of wild pigs to enter baited corral traps through 4 common gate widths (0.9 m, 1.2 m, 1.5 m, 1.8 m; no doors on any gates). We found no significant differences in gate-width selection for total wild pigs, sex-based selection, or number of piglets. Land managers should feel comfortable using gate sizes as small as 0.9 m when constructing corral traps.

published proceedings

  • WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN

author list (cited authors)

  • Metcalf, E. M., Parker, I. D., Lopez, R. R., Higginbotham, B., Davis, D. S., & Gersbach, J. R.

citation count

  • 3

complete list of authors

  • Metcalf, Eric M||Parker, Israel D||Lopez, Roel R||Higginbotham, Billy||Davis, Donald S||Gersbach, Julius R

publication date

  • December 2014

publisher