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 existen ce and contribution to biological diversity. As a result, the nature of a g iven species-whether it is considered a "pest" or a "resource"-is often det ermined by the economic and regulatory environment in which the species exi sts. 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 co nsider the potential for recreational hunting as a policy for population co ntrol. (C) 2000 Academic Press.