A multi-level modeling approach to guide management of female feral hogs in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A multi-level modeling approach reveals distinct seasonal habitat preferences of female feral hogs (Sus scrofa) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offering critical insights for targeted population control. Summer models indicate strong selection for lower slopes near human-dominated areas like roadways, while winter models show a shift toward oak-dominated forests with reduced preference for developed spaces. By integrating Step Selection Function (SSF) and Resource Selection Function (RSF) analyses, researchers created a consensus model to reconcile seasonal differences, providing wildlife managers with actionable data to focus surveillance and management efforts efficiently. This framework can be adapted for similar systems where habitat selection varies by season or level of analysis.

Buderman, F. E., Helm, P. J., Clark, J. D., Williamson, R. H., Yarkovich, J., & Mullinax, J. M. (2023). A multi-level modeling approach to guide management of female feral hogs in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Biological Invasions, 25(10), 3065–3082. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-023-03086-4