Evaluating Performance of Density Estimators and Common Trap Types for Invasive Wild Pigs (Sus scrofa)

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a globally distributed invasive species whose populations have expanded rapidly in recent decades. While population management for wild pigs is paramount, there are knowledge gaps surrounding density estimation methods and the most effective management practices to control growing wild pig populations. In this thesis, I quantified wild pig densities using removal and spatial mark-resight models from data collected across private properties in South Carolina, USA, and assessed which model-specific and environmental variables influenced the precision of each model type (Chapter 2). In addition, I evaluated the performance of three common trap types used to capture wild pigs across three distinct forage seasons using data collected across four southeastern US states over a three-year period (Chapter 3). This research advances our understanding of the performance of density estimators under varying conditions and provides critical information to aid in the continued implementation of wild pig population management.