Quantifying American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) Nest Depredation by Wild Pigs (Sus scrofa)

Understanding interactions between native and invasive species is crucial for effective wildlife management, as predation by invasive species can significantly impact native populations. This study investigated the factors influencing wild pig (Sus scrofa) predation on 28 American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) nests in Texas coastal marshes between 2022 and 2023. We examined variables including nest location, wetland type, soil type, landcover, distance to roads, distance to management headquarters (i.e., human infrastructure), distance to levees, distance to trees, and salinity levels to determine their relationship with nest predation. We analyzed data using generalized linear regression models and evaluated the models’ performance using AICc values and the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. Our results revealed that proximity to roads was negatively associated with nest predation risk (β = −0.01, p = 0.05), while increased distance from management headquarters was positively correlated with predation (β = 0.0004, p = 0.09). This study’s findings indicate that distance to roads influence predation dynamics, with potential implications for wildlife managers seeking to mitigate wild pig depredation of alligator nests and potentially other ground-nesting reptiles and birds. These insights can guide habitat management strategies and inform conservation efforts by identifying high-risk areas and enhancing protective measures for alligator nests.