PONE-D-24-51915Externalities in wild pig damages on U.S. crop and livestock farms: The role of landowner actions and landscape heterogeneityPLOS ONE

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Additional Editor Comments:

The overall paper "economic and ecological impacts of wild pig damages on U.S. agriculture" The study is robust and has significant policy implications; however, there are several areas that require further attention to enhance the paper's rigor and clarity

Here are few suggestions need to be considered

1. potential endogeneity in the variables capturing neighbor behavior should be addressed

2. restricted access to USDA survey data limits reproducibility. Providing detailed guidance on how future researchers might access or replicate the data using publicly available alternatives would improve transparency.

3. While the logistic regression models are appropriate for exploring associations, the limitations of observational data in establishing causality should be explicitly discussed.

4.The discussion section should include a more detailed comparison of the findings with prior studies to contextualize the results

5. The conclusion should be concise and focused on key findings and policy implications.

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Reviewers' comments:

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Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: Partly

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: Dear Authors,

The research work is interesting in its related fields. I have looked at it carefully, and it should be modified before publication process.

Introduction part line 105; you add your results in the inappropriate place; please paraphrase or transfer to the results part.

How did you analyze your collected data? It should be clear and simple for understanding. Lacks clarity your method of analysis

there is no consistency in using % or percentile; please use either of these throughout your text body.

In tables, there is dy/dx; this symbol/formula, needs what it shows in the table captions!

There is no discussion part, which is basic to relate your findings with others scholars?

Reviewer #2: Background

My field of expertise lies in farming, criminology, and penology. However, I served on the Predation Management Forum of South Africa for over 15 years as a representative of livestock farmers. This role provided me with extensive exposure to damage-causing animals and related issues, particularly in managing predation risks and fostering coexistence strategies. This experience has equipped me with a unique interdisciplinary perspective on the challenges and dynamics of human-wildlife interactions.

Through this lens, I accepted the request to peer review this paper. My background enables me to critically evaluate the research while appreciating the practical implications of its findings, especially for those engaged in wildlife management and agricultural operations.

Summary of the research and my impressions

This paper significantly contributes to the academic discourse on human-wildlife conflict by addressing the growing challenge of wild pig prevalence and its impact on agricultural operations in the southeastern United States. The research offers valuable insights into the interplay of landowner behaviour, neighbouring property actions, and landscape features, shedding light on the dynamics that influence wild pig impacts. The study’s findings on spatial externalities, particularly the roles of public lands and cross-boundary behaviours, are especially relevant for policymakers seeking to develop collaborative management strategies.

The paper is methodologically robust, presenting a straightforward research question and hypothesis supported by well-structured arguments and comprehensive survey data. Its exploration of landowner behaviour and neighbouring actions is insightful, providing a nuanced understanding of how individual and collective actions affect wild pig management. These findings have practical implications for designing targeted strategies to mitigate the economic and environmental damage caused by wild pigs.

Despite these strengths, there are areas where the paper could be refined to enhance clarity, accessibility, and global relevance. For instance:

1. Clarification of Citations: On page 4, line 91, the paper references "research" without specifying which studies are cited. Providing detailed citations in such instances would bolster the paper’s credibility and situate its findings within the broader body of literature.

2. Introduction of Key Concepts: The concept of wild pigs as res nullius animals (not owned by any individual) is introduced relatively late in the paper, on page 7. Including this concept in the introduction would provide essential context and help frame the issue for readers early in the discussion.

3. Global Perspective: While the paper focuses on the southeastern United States, it misses an opportunity to connect its findings to similar challenges faced in other parts of the world. Human-wildlife conflicts involving res nullius animals are a global issue, and a brief reference to analogous situations in other regions could broaden the paper’s applicability. Comparative research, even in summary form, would highlight shared challenges and potential cross-contextual solutions, enriching the discussion.

Addressing these areas would enhance the paper’s clarity and relevance to a wider audience, particularly those working on wildlife management in diverse ecological and socio-economic contexts. Furthermore, such improvements would make the paper more accessible to an international readership while emphasising the broader significance of its findings.

In conclusion, this paper is valuable to studying human-wildlife conflict and offers practical insights for managing wild pig impacts in agricultural settings. Minor amendments to improve clarity, citation practices, and global contextualisation would achieve greater impact and utility. I recommend it for publication, with attention to these suggested refinements.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Externalities in wild pig damages on U.S. crop and livestock farms: The role of landowner actions and landscape heterogeneity

PONE-D-24-51915R1

Dear Dr. McKee,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Muhammad Umer Arshad

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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