The spatial ecology of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in southwest Florida

Context Understanding a species’ spatial and behavioral ecology informs conservation and management. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a key prey for endangered Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) yet are among the most damaging vertebrate pests in their nonnative range, impacting agriculture, ecological resources, and presenting zoonotic disease risks. Aims We evaluated how environmental factors influence wild pig home range size and movement behavior in southwest Florida. Specifically, we assessed how habitat composition, temperature, and season shape space use and activity patterns to identify ecological drivers that inform management. Methods We analyzed GPS collar data from 16 wild pigs (13 males, three females) collected during June 2019 to February 2021. Autocorrelated kernel density estimation quantified individual home range size. To test the habitat productivity hypothesis, we used stepwise linear regression to evaluate the effects of landcover composition, environmental variables, and individual traits on log-transformed home range size. Three-state hidden Markov models assessed how extrinsic factors influenced movement behavior and daily time budgets. Key results The overall inverse-variance weighted mean home range was 10.07 km2, with males averaging 13.5 km2 and females 4.10 km2. Seasonal analyses showed larger home ranges in the wet season (males 13.53 km2, females 5.49 km2) than the dry season (males 11.04 km2, females 2.69 km2). Home range decreased with increased herbaceous wetland cover and increased with forest cover. As temperature exceeded 32°C, resting probability increased and traveling decreased. Resting occurred mainly during 7:30–16:00, while traveling during 18:00–7:00, indicating nocturnality. Traveling was most frequent during February–August, peaking in July. Conclusions Wild pigs maintained smaller ranges in wetland landscapes, suggesting these habitats provide core resources. Seasonal and thermal constraints shaped movement intensity and activity, with pigs expanding ranges during the wet season and exhibiting nocturnal activity and reduced daytime movement under higher temperatures. Implications Linking spatial and behavioral patterns to environmental conditions provides managers with actionable insight for control. Understanding when and where pigs move most extensively can inform trapping timing and placement, limit range expansion, reduce disease risk, and guide habitat management to mitigate ecological and agricultural impacts.