Understanding private landowner strategies for wild pig management using cluster analysis and structural equation modeling

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) pose a significant threat, causing substantial ecological and economic damage to natural ecosystems, agriculture, and forestry through destructive behaviors of wallowing and rooting. Addressing this widespread issue urgently requires effective and sustained management strategies, especially involving private landowners, who are a critical stakeholder group in the West Gulf Coastal Plain (WGCP). This study aims to identify landowner typologies in wild pig management and to examine factors influencing their intentions to engage in such efforts in Arkansas, Louisiana, and East Texas. We employed a mixed method of cluster analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Cluster analysis revealed three distinct landowner groups based on their familiarity with and experiences of wild pig damage and management efforts: Unaware Bystanders, Frontline Responders, and Cautious Observers. SEM was employed to assess the belief structures influencing behavioral intentions across the entire sample and within each identified cluster. Results indicated that beliefs and attitudes were the most influential predictors of intended behavior, which varied across the landowner clusters. The findings highlight the heterogeneity in landowner responses and offer practical implications for developing targeted outreach strategies, policy interventions, and collaborative management approaches aligned with the needs and motivations of different landowner groups.