Seasonal Habitat Distribution and Connectivity Response of Water Deer and Wild Boar to Hotspot Fencing in a Fragmented Urban Forest Fringe

TL;DR

This study examines how a short fence affects the movement of wild boar and water deer in a fragmented urban forest, showing that it can reduce conflicts with farmers.

Contribution

The study demonstrates species-specific responses to fencing in mitigating human-wildlife conflicts in fragmented landscapes.

Findings

A 200 m fence effectively blocked wild boar movement near a mud pool but had minimal impact on water deer.

Wild boar showed more pronounced seasonal range expansion beyond the fenced area.

Trails and roads were key environmental variables influencing habitat suitability for both species.

Abstract

Human–wildlife conflicts frequently occur at forest–agriculture interfaces, particularly in fragmented landscapes where wildlife movement corridors intersect with farmland. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a short fence in reducing seasonal incursions by wild boar (Sus scrofa) and Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus) into farmland at Baekbong Mountain, Namyangju City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, from January 2021 to February 2022. Using camera trap detections and UAV‐derived environmental data, we developed seasonal habitat suitability models with Maxent and conducted connectivity analyses using Omniscape to identify potential movement corridors. A 200 m fence was installed at a predicted hotspot, and additional camera traps were used to monitor changes in wildlife movement. Trails and roads were identified as key environmental variables influencing habitat suitability for both species. After fence installation, the preferred corridor used by wild boar near a mud pool was effectively blocked, whereas Korean water deer continued to access the same location. Seasonal distribution changes were more pronounced for wild boar, with their range expanding beyond the fenced area. Our results suggest that even relatively short fences can effectively deter wild boar movement while having minimal impact on water deer, highlighting the importance of species‐specific ecological considerations when implementing mitigation measures. These findings provide practical insights for farmers and land managers seeking to reduce wildlife incursions and mitigate human–wildlife conflicts in urban‐fringe ecosystems.

Normalized flow potential connectivity analysis for water deer (a), wild boar (b) except buffer zone (100 m), and changed predicted area for both the species according to the reclassified level of connectivity (c) for crop rotation within the mountain area.

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