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

Zivin, J, B Hueth, and D Zilberman, “Managing a Multiple Use Resource: The Case of Feral Pig Management in California Rangeland,” Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 39(2000): 189-204.

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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.