SREL Reprint #3806

Invasive wild pig carcass availability does not affect coyote abundance in South Carolina, USA

Heather E. Gaya1, Gino J. D’Angelo1, Mark Vukovich2, Jordan L. Youngmann1, Stacey L. Lance3,
and John C. Kilgo2

1Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia,
180 E. Green Street, Athens, GA 30605, USA
2United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Research Station,
PO Box 700, New Ellenton, SC 29809, USA
3University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA

Abstract: Context. Control of invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) is a growing management concern throughout their invaded range. In the United States, control programs often leave wild pig carcasses on the landscape where they are freely available for consumption by scavengers such as coyotes (Canis latrans). Coyotes consume wild pigs, but no studies have investigated the importance of pig carcasses for maintaining coyote abundance. Aims. We tested the hypothesis that coyote populations may be bolstered by wild pig carcasses created by control programs. Methods. From July 2014 to July 2017, we surveyed road transects for scat to monitor coyote abundance in response to changing levels of pig carcass availability. From June 2015 to July 2017, wild pigs were removed from the eastern half of the study area and placed at one of four carcass dump sites on the western side. We analysed the scat data using an open population spatially-explicit capture–mark recapture model to estimate seasonal abundance and movement of coyotes in response to the carcass treatment. Results. Coyote density across the entire study area declined from 95 coyotes/100 km2 in July 2014 to 65 coyotes/100 km2 by July 2016, but declines were unrelated to the carcass availability treatment. Additional analysis on nongenotyped scat data showed no apparent effect of carcass availability on coyote density. Coyote activity centers moved fewer than 100 m towards the nearest carcass dump site in response to the carcass treatment. Conclusions. Wild pig carcass availability is not likely to be a primary driver of coyote abundance or territory selection at the study location. Implications. We conclude that the availability of wild pig carcasses has little effect on coyote abundance and thus wild pig carcass removal will not be an effective coyote management strategy.

Keywords: abundance, Canis latrans, coyote, feral hog, invasive wild pig, Savannah River Site, supplemental forage, Sus scrofa

SREL Reprint #3806

Gaya, H. E., G. J. D'Angelo, M. Vukovich, J. L. Youngmann, S. L. Lance, and J. C. Kilgo. 2025. Invasive wild pig carcass availability does not affect coyote abundance in South Carolina, USA. Wildlife Research 52(WR24175).

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).