Managing a Multiple-Use Resource: The Case of Feral Pig Management in California Rangeland

Many wildlife populations cause damage in agricultural systems but are also valued resources, either for their recreational value or for their existence and contribution to biological diversity. As a result, the nature of a given species—whether it is considered a “pest” or a “resource”—is often determined by the economic and regulatory environment in which the species exists. In this paper we develop a bioeconomic model of one such environment. We apply the model to the case of feral pigs in California rangeland and consider the potential for recreational hunting as a policy for population control.