Abstract Context Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a non-native, invasive species that can cause significant damage to agricultural crops, and native flora and fauna. In the United States, damage and control costs have been estimated at 1.5 billion USD. A combination of early sexual maturity, high fecundity, opportunistic eating and well established populations forces managers to control wild pig densities and resulting damages. Aims The present study aimed to examine the relationships among farmers’ positive and negative beliefs about wild pigs, their perceived risks associated with wild pigs and their acceptability of lethal management actions for controlling agricultural damage. Methods Data were obtained from a mail survey of Illinois farmers (n = 3035, response rate = 58%). Variables consisted of six belief statements (three negative, e.g. wild pigs are a source of disease, and three positive, e.g. ‘I enjoy seeing wild pigs around my property’), five perceived risk statements (e.g. wild pigs cause property damage) and four statements regarding the acceptability of lethal management actions for controlling the impact of wild pigs (e.g. shooting wild pigs from a helicopter). Key results The relationships between the negative and positive beliefs and the acceptability of lethal management were partially mediated by perceptions of risk (Hypothesis 1). Perceived risks associated with wild pigs were related to negative (Hypothesis 2) and positive (Hypothesis 3) beliefs about wild pigs, as well as acceptability of lethal management actions (Hypothesis 4) to control the impact of wild pigs. In addition, negative beliefs (Hypothesis 5) and positive beliefs (Hypothesis 6) were related to support for lethal control. Conclusions These relationships occurred despite the relatively low prevalence of wild pigs in Illinois and suggest that lethal actions are acceptable even though perceived risks are low. Implications Findings suggested that perceived risks associated with wild pigs were not substantially related to the attributes of the farm (e.g. farm ownership, crops grown, total acres farmed) or demographic characteristics (i.e. sex, age). Managers should focus on influencing the psychological indicators (e.g. negative and positive beliefs, perceived risks) to increase the acceptability of lethal management actions for mitigating the impacts of wild pigs.

中文翻译：

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野猪致死管理的信念、感知风险和可接受性

摘要背景野猪（Sus scrofa）是一种非本地入侵物种，会对农作物和本地动植物造成重大损害。在美国，损失和控制成本估计为 15 亿美元。早期性成熟、高繁殖力、机会主义饮食和成熟种群的结合迫使管理人员控制野猪的密度和由此产生的损害。目的 本研究旨在检验农民对野猪的正面和负面信念、他们感知到的与野猪相关的风险以及他们对控制农业损害的致命管理行动的可接受性之间的关系。方法 数据来自伊利诺伊州农民的邮件调查（n = 3035，响应率 = 58%）。变量由六个信念陈述组成（三个否定的，例如 野猪是疾病的来源，三个正面的，例如“我喜欢在我的财产周围看到野猪”），五个感知到的风险陈述（例如野猪造成财产损失）和四个关于控制致命管理行动的可接受性的陈述野猪的影响（例如从直升机上射杀野猪）。主要结果 消极和积极信念与致命管理的可接受性之间的关系部分受风险感知的影响（假设 1）。与野猪相关的感知风险与对野猪的负面（假设 2）和正面（假设 3）信念以及控制野猪影响的致命管理行动（假设 4）的可接受性有关。此外，消极信念（假设 5）和积极信念（假设 6）与支持致命控制有关。结论 尽管伊利诺伊州野猪的流行率相对较低，但这些关系仍然存在，并表明即使感知风险较低，致命行为也是可以接受的。影响 调查结果表明，与野猪相关的感知风险与农场的属性（例如农场所有权、种植的作物、养殖的总英亩数）或人口特征（即性别、年龄）没有实质性的相关性。管理人员应关注影响心理指标（例如消极和积极信念、感知风险），以提高对减轻野猪影响的致命管理行动的可接受性。结论 尽管伊利诺伊州野猪的流行率相对较低，但这些关系仍然存在，并表明即使感知风险较低，致命行为也是可以接受的。影响 调查结果表明，与野猪相关的感知风险与农场的属性（例如农场所有权、种植的作物、养殖的总英亩数）或人口特征（即性别、年龄）没有实质性的相关性。管理人员应关注影响心理指标（例如消极和积极信念、感知风险），以提高对减轻野猪影响的致命管理行动的可接受性。结论 尽管伊利诺伊州野猪的流行率相对较低，但这些关系仍然存在，并表明即使感知风险较低，致命行为也是可以接受的。影响 调查结果表明，与野猪相关的感知风险与农场的属性（例如农场所有权、种植的作物、养殖的总英亩数）或人口特征（即性别、年龄）没有实质性的相关性。管理人员应关注影响心理指标（例如消极和积极信念、感知风险），以提高对减轻野猪影响的致命管理行动的可接受性。影响 调查结果表明，与野猪相关的感知风险与农场的属性（例如农场所有权、种植的作物、养殖的总英亩数）或人口特征（即性别、年龄）没有实质性的相关性。管理人员应关注影响心理指标（例如消极和积极信念、感知风险），以提高对减轻野猪影响的致命管理行动的可接受性。影响 调查结果表明，与野猪相关的感知风险与农场的属性（例如农场所有权、种植的作物、养殖的总英亩数）或人口特征（即性别、年龄）没有实质性的相关性。管理人员应关注影响心理指标（例如消极和积极信念、感知风险），以提高对减轻野猪影响的致命管理行动的可接受性。