Feral swine predation on turkey nests in south

[Galliform]

An interesting article published by the USDA, covering the formal study of nest predation by invasive swine (hogs/pigs/boars/etc) in Texas.

 

http://blogs.usda.gov/2016/04/04/the-little-known-threat-to-wild-turkeys/

 

 

Of the 22 nests [monitored], only two survived the entire 15-day monitoring period. Many nests were depredated on multiple occasions, showing that the predators were seeking out the eggs. Feral swine were responsible for 25 percent of depredation events. Other predators included ravens, raccoons, and grey fox.  Feral swine nest predation appears to add to native predators’ impact and the combined 90% depredation rate in this study indicates how difficult it is for turkeys to raise a brood.

 

You can be sure that any other ground-nesting bird has been impacted as well.

Edited April 5, 2016 by Galliform

[Curmudgeon]

It is good that DEC was very aggressive initiating control of feral swine and escaped Eurasian boar. Like so many native species, they evolved with the native predators. Add an invasive to the mix and everything gets out of whack.