Assessing methods to live-capture wild boars (Sus scrofa) in urban and peri-urban environments

• Published in: Veterinary record Vol. 187; no. 10; p. e85
• Main Authors: Torres-Blas, Irene, Mentaberre, Gregorio, Castillo-Contreras, Raquel, Fernández-Aguilar, Xavier, Conejero, Carles, Valldeperes, Marta, González-Crespo, Carlos, Colom-Cadena, Andreu, Lavín, Santiago, López-Olvera, Jorge Ramón
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Limited 14.11.2020; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Age; Animal Husbandry; Animal welfare; Animals; Animals, Wild; Anticoagulants; Cities; Environmental impact; haematochemistry; haematology; Hematology; Hemoglobin; Hogs; Laboratories; Methods; Spain; stress; Swine; Traffic accidents & safety; Urban areas; Veterinary medicine; Veterinary services; wild boar; wildlife; Cities; Spain; Germany; stress; haematology; haematochemistry; wild boar; wildlife
• ISSN: 0042-4900; 2042-7670
• DOI: 10.1136/vr.105766

BackgroundWild boar (Sus scrofa) populations are increasing worldwide and invading urban areas. Live-capture can improve the management of this challenge, maximising efficiency, allowing scientific studies and potentially improving animal welfare. This study assesses teleanaesthesia, drop-net, corral trap and cage trap to live-capture wild boar in urban and peri-urban areas, evaluating efficiency and animal stress through haematology and serum biochemistry.MethodsFrom 2012 to 2018, 655 wild boars were captured in 279 operations (drop-net=17, teleanaesthesia=186, cage trap=66 and corral trap=10) in the urban and peri-urban areas of Barcelona (Spain). Haematological and serum biochemical variables were determined in 145 wild boars (42 drop-netted, 41 teleanaesthetised, 38 cage-trapped and 24 corral-trapped).ResultsPerformance (wild boars captured per operation) was highest for drop-net, followed by corral and cage traps, and finally teleanaesthesia. The three physical capture methods were more stressful than teleanaesthesia, causing a more intense physiological reaction, muscular damage, renal function impairment and homeostasis adaption. Stress response was predominantly adrenergic for drop-net and cortisol-induced for cage and corral traps.ConclusionTeleanaesthesia is the choice in reactive urban situations thanks to its adaptability; drop-net effectively targets wild boars in peri-urban environments; cage and corral traps are useful as long-term methods in specific areas.