# Comparing Durations of Different Countermeasure Efficacies Against Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in Cornfields of Hunchun, Jilin Province, China

## TL;DR

This study compares different methods to deter wild boars from damaging cornfields in China, finding that electric fences offer long-term protection while solar blinkers are a cheaper short-term option.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed cost-effectiveness and duration analysis of various deterrent methods for wild boar management in cornfields.

## Key findings

- Electric fencing with three wires provided the longest protection (29.67 days) but had lower cost-effectiveness.
- The 1000 mA red solar blinker was the most cost-effective short-term deterrent with a repellency per cost ratio of 0.31.
- Adult Amur tiger calls and feces combined offered significant deterrence for 27.34 days.

## Abstract

Wild boars cause substantial damage to cornfields in Hunchun, Jilin Province, particularly during the critical 30-day ripening period. To identify effective and cost-efficient deterrents, this study evaluated visual (solar blinkers), auditory (predator calls), tactile (electric fences), olfactory (tiger feces), and combined deterrent methods from 2016 to 2021. The results indicated that electric fences provided the most reliable long-term protection, preventing crop damage for up to 29 days. Solar blinkers, particularly red ones, were a cost-effective short-term solution but declined in effectiveness as the wild boars habituated to them. Predator calls, such as those of Adult Amur tigers, also demonstrated efficacy, likely due to the natural threat perception of wild boars. While electric fences require a higher initial investment, they offer sustained protection, making them suitable for long-term use. In contrast, solar blinkers provide a practical, low-cost alternative for short-term mitigation. These findings offer valuable insights for developing effective wildlife management strategies, helping to reduce agricultural losses while promoting human–wildlife coexistence.

Wildlife behavior can be influenced by the deployment of sensory cues in a landscape, but different cues vary in the strength and duration of their effectiveness. We aimed to identify the most effective and cost-efficient countermeasures (sensory cues) to deter wild boar (Sus scrofa) entry and damage to cornfields in Hunchun, Jilin Province, China. These cornfields have experienced severe damage by wild boars during the critical 30-day period when this crop was ripening. From 2016 to 2021, different countermeasures were applied sequentially seeking to control this damage by using either (1) visual deterrents, i.e., solar blinkers of different colors; (2) auditory deterrents, i.e., playbacks of Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) calls, wild boar calls, or wolf (Canis lupus) calls; (3) tactile deterrents, i.e., electric fencing; (4) olfactory deterrents, i.e., Adult Amur tiger feces; or (5) various combined deterrents. We first evaluated the effectiveness of these broad categories, then performed a detailed analysis of the individual countermeasures to assess their specific deterrence effectiveness and duration. A cost-effective analysis was subsequently performed on the most effective countermeasures to evaluate the best option for practical applications. Across the broad categories of deterrents, the tactile group proved the most effective overall. For individual deterrents, the seven countermeasures showing significantly higher effectiveness than the others tested included the following: (1) 1000 mA red solar blinker (32.25 ± 4.22 days), (2) 1000 mA yellow solar blinker (29.67 ± 4.58 days), (3) 1000 mA green solar blinker (29.58 ± 5.60 days), (4) electric fencing with three wires (29.67 ± 0.58 days), (5) electric fencing with two wires (28.00 ± 2.00 days), (6) Adult Amur tiger calls for 15 s and wild boar calls for 15 s plus a combined 30 s plus a blank recording for 5 min (26.50 ± 2.38 days), and (7) Adult Amur tiger feces and calls (27.34 ± 2.94 days). Except for the Adult Amur tiger feces and calls, each countermeasure would cover most of the period over which control is necessary (30 days). The 1000 mA red solar blinker of achieved the highest repellency per cost ratio (0.31) at 30.29 IUS$/hm2 but showed reduced effectiveness over time. Although electric fencing with three wires offers longer deterrence, its cost-effectiveness ratio was lower (0.27) due to higher installation and maintenance costs at 319.69 IUS$/hm2. The 1000 mA red solar blinker offers a highly cost-effective short-term deterrent, while the electric fencing with three wires provides durable, long-term protection despite its higher costs. Balancing cost and duration can optimize wild boar deterrence strategies across different management needs.