How Do Hunters Hunt Wild Boar? Survey on Wild Boar Hunting Methods in the Federal State of Lower Saxony

High wild boar population densities lead to demands for a population reduction to avoid crop damages or epidemic diseases. Along with biological studies, a better understanding of the human influence on wildlife and on wildlife management is important. We conducted inquiries on hunting methods and on hunters’ attitudes in the Federal State of Lower Saxony, Germany, to better understand hunting strategies and the influence on increasing wild boar population, as well as to underpin game management concepts. Single hunt, especially at bait, is still the most widely used method for hunting wild boar. The proportion of drive hunts within the hunting bag is increasing. The proportions of hunting methods vary regionally due to wild boar densities, geographical features (vegetation, terrain, etc.) and hunters’ practices. Hunters increased the proportion of conjoint hunts on wild boar. Baiting remains an important hunting method in wild boar management and the proportion of drive hunts should be fostered. Private hunting is important for wild boar management, although it is just insufficient. Additionally, administrative wildlife managers are recommended for the near future as coordinators of wild boar management, and as such, could manage hunting, the incorporation of regional conditions and investigating hunters’ attitudes and abilities.

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Wild boar management (Sus scrofa L.) in the Republic of Serbia

Glasnik Sumarskog fakulteta ◽

10.2298/gsf2021047l ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 47-60

Author(s):

Vukan Lavadinovic ◽

Zoran Popovic ◽

Dejan Beukovic ◽

Kristijan Cokoski

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Population Abundance ◽

Wild Boar Population ◽

Game Species ◽

The Past ◽

Hunting Management ◽

Management Plans ◽

Crop Damages ◽

The Republic ◽

Human Wildlife Conflict

Wild Boar is an autochthonous big game species important for the domestic hunting sector. In the past decades this species is increasing in number across Europe, which influences the extent of crop damages and intensity of the human-wildlife conflict. In this study Wild Boar hunting management was analyzed both at the national and regional level. For that purpose data from management plans of 272 hunting grounds were used. Beside the management plans, this study includes a survey of 377 hunters. The results indicate that Wild Boar population abundance is increasing in the Republic of Serbia, partially because the planned and realized shooting are not harmonized. There are differences in hunting management between the regions of Vojvodina and Central Serbia. The survey has shown that among domestic hunters Wild Boar is a popular game species, especially due to the attractive way of hunting.

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Zero-inflated-censored Weibull and gamma regression models to estimate wild boar population dispersal distance

Japanese Journal of Statistics and Data Science ◽

10.1007/s42081-021-00124-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Eduardo de Freitas Costa ◽

Silvana Schneider ◽

Giulia Bagatini Carlotto ◽

Tainá Cabalheiro ◽

Mauro Ribeiro de Oliveira Júnior

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Regression Models ◽

Likelihood Function ◽

Complex Structure ◽

Dispersal Distance ◽

Wild Boar Population ◽

Gamma Distributions ◽

Excess Of Zeros ◽

Censored Observations ◽

Positive Effect

AbstractThe dynamics of the wild boar population has become a pressing issue not only for ecological purposes, but also for agricultural and livestock production. The data related to the wild boar dispersal distance can have a complex structure, including excess of zeros and right-censored observations, thus being challenging for modeling. In this sense, we propose two different zero-inflated-right-censored regression models, assuming Weibull and gamma distributions. First, we present the construction of the likelihood function, and then, we apply both models to simulated datasets, demonstrating that both regression models behave well. The simulation results point to the consistency and asymptotic unbiasedness of the developed methods. Afterwards, we adjusted both models to a simulated dataset of wild boar dispersal, including excess of zeros, right-censored observations, and two covariates: age and sex. We showed that the models were useful to extract inferences about the wild boar dispersal, correctly describing the data mimicking a situation where males disperse more than females, and age has a positive effect on the dispersal of the wild boars. These results are useful to overcome some limitations regarding inferences in zero-inflated-right-censored datasets, especially concerning the wild boar’s population. Users will be provided with an R function to run the proposed models.

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Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistances of Salmonella spp. Isolated from Wild Boars in Liguria Region, Italy

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10050568 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 568

Author(s):

Elisabetta Razzuoli ◽

Valeria Listorti ◽

Isabella Martini ◽

Laura Migone ◽

Lucia Decastelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Wild Boar ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽

Potential Risk ◽

Salmonella Enterica ◽

Intestinal Tract ◽

Wild Boar Population ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

Wild Boars ◽

In The Wild

Salmonella spp. is an important zoonotic agent. Wild boars might host this pathogen in the intestinal tract and might represent a risk for Salmonella spp. transmission to humans. Wild boars are widely spread in Liguria, due to the environmental characteristics of the region. The aim of the study was the isolation, typing, and investigation of antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated strains of Salmonella spp. During the 2013–2017 hunting seasons, 4335 livers of wild boars were collected and analyzed for the presence of Salmonella spp. A total of 260 strains of Salmonella spp. were isolated and characterized, with a prevalence of 6%. The isolated strains belonged to all six Salmonella enterica subspecies. Most of them were identified as Salmonella enterica subs. enterica of which 31 different serotypes were identified. The dominating serotype identified was S. Enteritidis. The antimicrobial resistance profiles of the isolated strains were analyzed against sixteen molecules. Of the isolated strains, 94.6% were resistant to at least one of the tested antimicrobials. This study showed the circulation of resistant Salmonella spp. strains in the wild boar population living in this area of Italy, underling the potential risk for these animals to disseminate this pathogen and its antimicrobial resistances.

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An approach to assess stress in response to drive hunts using cortisol levels of wild boar (Sus scrofa)

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-95927-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Justine Güldenpfennig ◽

Marion Schmicke ◽

Martina Hoedemaker ◽

Ursula Siebert ◽

Oliver Keuling

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Stress Hormones ◽

Age Groups ◽

Group Living ◽

Well Being ◽

Lower Saxony ◽

Cortisol Levels ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

The Impact ◽

Effect Of Age

AbstractHunting can easily be linked to stress in wildlife. Drive hunts performed two to three times in one area during the respective hunting period, are thought to decrease the pressure hunting places on wildlife. Nevertheless, the expression of cortisol—one of the main mammalian stress hormones—is considered to have negative impacts on animals’ well-being if expressed excessively, which may occur during some (especially repeated) hunting events. We explored the effect of drive hunts on cortisol levels in wild boar in Lower Saxony, Germany, compared these cortisol levels to reference values given by a similar study, and investigated the effect of age, sex, and pregnancy. Blood collected from wild boar shot on drive hunts was analysed using a radioimmunoassay. As expected, we observed elevated cortisol levels in all samples, however, we still found significant differences between age groups and sexes, as well as an influence of pregnancy on cortisol levels. The effect of drive hunts on cortisol levels appears to be weaker than predicted, while the effects of other variables, such as sex, are distinct. Only half of the evaluated samples showed explicitly increased cortisol levels and no significant differences were found between sampling months and locations. Group living animals and pregnant females showed significantly higher cortisol levels. The impact of hunting is measurable but is masked by natural effects such as pregnancy. Thus, we need more information on stress levels in game species.

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Trichinosis in Lublin Province in 2003-2010 on a Background of Wild Boar`S Population Dynamics

Bulletin of the Veterinary Institute in Pulawy ◽

10.2478/v10213-012-0008-2 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 43-46

Author(s):

Marian Flis

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Wild Boar Population ◽

Wild Boars ◽

Hospitalised Patients ◽

Species Population ◽

Wild Boar Meat ◽

Population Interaction ◽

Domestic Swine ◽

Epidemiological Situation

Abstract The research aimed at evaluating the epizootic and epidemiological situation of trichinosis during the last 8 years in Lublin province on a background of progressing increase in wild boar population within the region and in the whole country. Data for the study were taken from the report on the results of the official examination of slaughter animals and meat, poultry, game, lagomorphs and aquaculture animals and six reports on the number of trichinosis cases found at wild boars and domestic swine. In order to evaluate the trichinosis epidemiological situation within the region, reports of the National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene on the number of identified trichinosis cases in people, as well as the number of hospitalised patients were presented. In addition, information on the population and hunting achievement of wild boars in hunting circuits of Lublin province during the last 8 years was enclosed. The number of identified trichinosis cases in meat of wild boars from Lublin region increased 9 times, while the percentage of trichinosis occurrence in reference to the number of examined carcasses almost 3-fold. At the same period, the number of porcine carcasses, in which trichinosis was found, decreased by over 4 times. Over double increase in wild boar population on the studied area was observed during the evaluation. Dynamic increase in the population size - in an aspect of the species population interaction with the living habitat, and in the form of the increase in the number of damages of crops and cultivation fields - contributed to intensified hunting pressure towards the species expressed as almost 3-fold increase of wild boar hunting. Analysis of epizootic and epidemiological situation of Poland indicates that wild boar meat was the principal source of trichinosis during the studied period. Considering Lublin province, the number of identified trichinosis cases is still high as compared to eastern and central provinces. Meanwhile, when compared to western and northern Poland, the level of trichinosis invasion can be considered as low. Furthermore, the trichinosis morbidity among people, that does not exceed 0.18/100 thousand inhabitants, can be regarded as low. Nevertheless, the fact of underestimating the necessity of both wild boar’s and swine’s meat examination seems to be alarming

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An approach to stress assessment during hunting: Cortisol levels of wild boar (Sus scrofa) during drive hunts

10.1101/2020.03.11.987628 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Justine Güldenpfennig ◽

Marion Schmicke ◽

Martina Hoedemaker ◽

Ursula Siebert ◽

Oliver Keuling

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Cortisol Level ◽

Age Groups ◽

Serum Cortisol ◽

Well Being ◽

Lower Saxony ◽

Pregnant Females ◽

Wildlife Species ◽

Cortisol Levels ◽

The Impact

AbstractOnly little is known about the effect of stress (both short-term and long-term) on wildlife species. To get an idea of stress in wildlife, we investigated the cortisol level of wild boar during drive hunts in Lower Saxony, Germany. Cortisol as one of the main stress hormone in mammals is considered to have negative impacts on the animal’s well-being if expressed excessively (repeatedly over a longer period). We analysed serum cortisol levels of 115 samples using a radioimmunoassay and compared sampling month, hunting grounds, age classes and sexes, as well as possible correlations between cortisol level and weight and pregnancy status of female wild boar. We found that cortisol levels during these drive hunts exhibit wide variation. The mean cortisol level was 411.16 nmol/L with levels ranging from 30.60 nmol/L (minimum) to 1,457.92 nmol/L (maximum). Comparing age groups and sexes, we found significant differences between the sexes, with females having a higher cortisol levels than males. After grouping age groups and sexes together, we also found significant differences based on the age-sex group. We found no correlation between cortisol levels and weight, but significantly higher cortisol levels in pregnant females compared to non-pregnant females. No differences were found between sampling months and locations, respectively. These results show the impact of drive hunts on stress in wild boar; nevertheless, this impact of drive hunts as performed in most parts of Central Europe seems to be not as high as imagined. Still, we need more information about cortisol levels and stress in (hunted) wildlife species.

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Strategies of LMS Implementation at German Universities

Virtual Learning Environments ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-0011-9.ch306 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 522-541

Author(s):

Carola Kruse ◽

Thanh-Thu Phan Tan ◽

Arne Koesling ◽

Marc Krüger

Keyword(s):

Academic Staff ◽

Federal State ◽

Top Down ◽

Lower Saxony ◽

Online Tool ◽

General Aspects ◽

The University ◽

Different Levels ◽

German Federal State ◽

German Universities

In Germany, a learning management system (LMS) has become an everyday online tool for the academic staff and students at almost every university. Implementing an LMS, however, can be very different depending on the university. We introduce some general aspects on the strategies at German universities on how to implement an LMS. These aspects are mainly influenced by two main approaches, the top-down and bottom-up approach, which determine the decisions and actions on different levels at the university. In order to show how the strategies are carried out, we are presenting three case studies from universities based in the German federal state of Lower Saxony. We are going to reveal that both approaches play a part in each strategy, however differently weighted. It becomes clear that networking and collaboration plays a crucial role, not only concerning the technical development of the LMS software but also in organisational and educational terms.

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Strategies of LMS Implementation at German Universities

Higher Education Institutions and Learning Management Systems ◽

10.4018/978-1-60960-884-2.ch015 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 315-334

Author(s):

Carola Kruse ◽

Thanh-Thu Phan Tan ◽

Arne Koesling ◽

Marc Krüger

Keyword(s):

Academic Staff ◽

Federal State ◽

Top Down ◽

Lower Saxony ◽

Online Tool ◽

General Aspects ◽

The University ◽

Different Levels ◽

German Federal State ◽

German Universities

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Future distribution of wild boar in a highly anthropogenic landscape: Models combining hunting bag and citizen science data

Ecological Modelling ◽

10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.108804 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 411 ◽

pp. 108804 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anneleen Rutten ◽

Jim Casaer ◽

Kristijn R.R. Swinnen ◽

Marc Herremans ◽

Herwig Leirs

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Citizen Science ◽

Science Data ◽

Anthropogenic Landscape ◽

Hunting Bag ◽

Landscape Models

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Estimating vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed influenza among children and adolescents in Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, 2012–2016

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268817002709 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 146 (1) ◽

pp. 78-88 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A. MÖHL ◽

L. GRÄFE ◽

C. HELMEKE ◽

D. ZIEHM ◽

M. MONAZAHIAN ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza A ◽

Respiratory Illness ◽

Vaccine Effectiveness ◽

Federal State ◽

Influenza B ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Lower Saxony ◽

Federal States ◽

German Federal States ◽

Influenza A H1n1

SUMMARYInfluenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) has to be estimated anew for every season to explore vaccines’ protective effect in the population. We report VE estimates against laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and influenza B among children aged 2–17 years, using test-negative design. Pooled data from two German federal states’ surveillance systems for acute respiratory illness from week 40/2012 to 20/2016 was used, yielding a total of 10 627 specimens. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association between laboratory-confirmed influenza and vaccination status were calculated by multivariate logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, illness onset and federal state. VE was estimated as 1-Odds Ratio. Overall adjusted VE was 33% (95% CI: 24·3–40·7). A strong variation of VE between the seasons and subtypes was observed: highest season- and subtype-specific VE of 86·2% (95% CI: 41·3–96·7) was found against A(H1N1)pdm09 in 7–17-year-olds in 2015/16. Low estimates of VE were observed against A(H3N2) in any season, e.g. 1·5% (95% CI: −39·3–30·3) in 2014/15. Estimates showed a tendency to higher VE among 7–17-year-old children, but differences were not statistically significant. Although our findings are common in studies estimating influenza VE, we discussed several explanations for observed low VE.

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