Edmonton may soon be hogtied with a problem that it won’t be able to barbecue its way out of

[cc]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/07/wild-pigs-feared-absolute-destruction-canada">Canada's wild pigs risk 'absolute destruction' if left unchecked



Expert says pigs are 'worst invasive wild mammal on the planet', carrying diseases, destroying crops and contaminating water



https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9547407f23fc82cf335df521cd5ad4690105c58d/0_0_3221_1933/master/3221.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3b727f1d86586ef10e02c50006de4391">



Wild pigs have been spreading across central Alberta's prairies and if left unchecked, could soon find themselves in the river valley of Edmonton. According to Ryan Brook, a University of Saskatchewan professor studying the pigs, the creatures are an "ecological trainwreck" and would cause "absolute destruction" if they make their way to the river valley, which is abundant in water and forest cover.



"They tear up the forest floor, native grasslands get destroyed, wetlands, water systems. They feed on anything where they can, and will kill any pets, for sure," Brook told the Edmonton Journal.



"Wild pigs are the worst invasive wild mammal on the planet – I don't think there's any debate about that."



As omnivores, the pigs will eat virtually anything, including squirrels, birds, eggs, roadkill, live deer and pets. Weighing up to 100kg, the pigs sustain blistering winters by building "pigloos", or burrows that they heap with cattail plants.



"They wallow in wetlands and tear them up to make their nests ... They contaminate water with mud and pathogens, they destroy crops, they are a public safety hazard and they can transmit disease to humans, pets, livestock and wildlife," Brook said.



The pigs can severely jeopardize the livelihood of native wildlife. In addition to competing with native species such as deer and wild turkey, the pigs often beat coyotes to the scene of a kill.



They can also carry 89 diseases including the African swine fever. Another illness, foot and mouth disease, has been estimated by the Alberta Invasive Species Council to cost upwards of $51b in national exports if it spreads to meat products and causes an outbreak.



In addition, wild pigs have been linked to the decline of 22 plant species and four amphibian species.



Last May, the Alberta Invasive Species Council launched the Squeal on Pigs campaign in an attempt to control the pigs' spread. The campaign urges residents to report wild pig sightings to authorities so they "can make plans to eliminate entire sounders [a group of wild pigs] at once".

[Anonymous]

Folks in Edmonton will be making wild boar kolbassa.

[Anonymous]

https://server7.kproxy.com/servlet/redirect.srv/sruj/swktpeojwvzm/srst/p2/world/2022/mar/07/wild-pigs-feared-absolute-destruction-canada">Canada's wild pigs risk 'absolute destruction' if left unchecked



Expert says pigs are 'worst invasive wild mammal on the planet', carrying diseases, destroying crops and contaminating water



https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9547407f23fc82cf335df521cd5ad4690105c58d/0_0_3221_1933/master/3221.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3b727f1d86586ef10e02c50006de4391">



Wild pigs have been spreading across central Alberta's prairies and if left unchecked, could soon find themselves in the river valley of Edmonton. According to Ryan Brook, a University of Saskatchewan professor studying the pigs, the creatures are an "ecological trainwreck" and would cause "absolute destruction" if they make their way to the river valley, which is abundant in water and forest cover.



"They tear up the forest floor, native grasslands get destroyed, wetlands, water systems. They feed on anything where they can, and will kill any pets, for sure," Brook told the Edmonton Journal.



"Wild pigs are the worst invasive wild mammal on the planet – I don't think there's any debate about that."



As omnivores, the pigs will eat virtually anything, including squirrels, birds, eggs, roadkill, live deer and pets. Weighing up to 100kg, the pigs sustain blistering winters by building "pigloos", or burrows that they heap with cattail plants.



"They wallow in wetlands and tear them up to make their nests ... They contaminate water with mud and pathogens, they destroy crops, they are a public safety hazard and they can transmit disease to humans, pets, livestock and wildlife," Brook said.



The pigs can severely jeopardize the livelihood of native wildlife. In addition to competing with native species such as deer and wild turkey, the pigs often beat coyotes to the scene of a kill.



They can also carry 89 diseases including the African swine fever. Another illness, foot and mouth disease, has been estimated by the Alberta Invasive Species Council to cost upwards of $51b in national exports if it spreads to meat products and causes an outbreak.



In addition, wild pigs have been linked to the decline of 22 plant species and four amphibian species.



Last May, the Alberta Invasive Species Council launched the Squeal on Pigs campaign in an attempt to control the pigs' spread. The campaign urges residents to report wild pig sightings to authorities so they "can make plans to eliminate entire sounders [a group of wild pigs] at once".

I heard wild pigs were a real problem in the Kootenays.

[Bricktop]

Big problem here too.



https://feralpigs.com.au">//https://feralpigs.com.au

[Anonymous]

Big problem here too.



https://feralpigs.com.au">//https://feralpigs.com.au

Put a bounty on them. Problem solved.

[cc]

Yes. Looks like they will have to use a bounty

[Anonymous]

Big problem here too.



https://feralpigs.com.au">//https://feralpigs.com.au

Put a bounty on them. Problem solved.

In rural areas that might work.

[Anonymous]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/07/wild-pigs-feared-absolute-destruction-canada">Canada's wild pigs risk 'absolute destruction' if left unchecked



Expert says pigs are 'worst invasive wild mammal on the planet', carrying diseases, destroying crops and contaminating water



https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9547407f23fc82cf335df521cd5ad4690105c58d/0_0_3221_1933/master/3221.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3b727f1d86586ef10e02c50006de4391">



Wild pigs have been spreading across central Alberta's prairies and if left unchecked, could soon find themselves in the river valley of Edmonton. According to Ryan Brook, a University of Saskatchewan professor studying the pigs, the creatures are an "ecological trainwreck" and would cause "absolute destruction" if they make their way to the river valley, which is abundant in water and forest cover.



"They tear up the forest floor, native grasslands get destroyed, wetlands, water systems. They feed on anything where they can, and will kill any pets, for sure," Brook told the Edmonton Journal.



"Wild pigs are the worst invasive wild mammal on the planet – I don't think there's any debate about that."



As omnivores, the pigs will eat virtually anything, including squirrels, birds, eggs, roadkill, live deer and pets. Weighing up to 100kg, the pigs sustain blistering winters by building "pigloos", or burrows that they heap with cattail plants.



"They wallow in wetlands and tear them up to make their nests ... They contaminate water with mud and pathogens, they destroy crops, they are a public safety hazard and they can transmit disease to humans, pets, livestock and wildlife," Brook said.



The pigs can severely jeopardize the livelihood of native wildlife. In addition to competing with native species such as deer and wild turkey, the pigs often beat coyotes to the scene of a kill.



They can also carry 89 diseases including the African swine fever. Another illness, foot and mouth disease, has been estimated by the Alberta Invasive Species Council to cost upwards of $51b in national exports if it spreads to meat products and causes an outbreak.



In addition, wild pigs have been linked to the decline of 22 plant species and four amphibian species.



Last May, the Alberta Invasive Species Council launched the Squeal on Pigs campaign in an attempt to control the pigs' spread. The campaign urges residents to report wild pig sightings to authorities so they "can make plans to eliminate entire sounders [a group of wild pigs] at once".

Be careful taking small dogs off their leashes.

[Anonymous]

Big problem here too.



https://feralpigs.com.au">//https://feralpigs.com.au

Put a bounty on them. Problem solved.

In rural areas that might work.

They do work. Parts of Saskatchewan have coyote bounties. Losses of livestock to coyotes in those areas are the lowest in the procince.

[Anonymous]

Big problem here too.



https://feralpigs.com.au">//https://feralpigs.com.au

Put a bounty on them. Problem solved.

In rural areas that might work.

They do work. Parts of Saskatchewan have coyote bounties. Losses of livestock to coyotes in those areas are the lowest in the procince.

But, people in cities can't be setting traps or using firearms to kill wild pigs.

[Frood]

Big problem here too.



https://feralpigs.com.au">//https://feralpigs.com.au

I shared a house with a pig hunter in the 90's... he had 9 dogs. They'd grab the pig and he'd slit the throat. Those dogs were crazy mutts not to be trusted if they smelled blood.

[Anonymous]

They say we have feral hogs around here, but I aint seen any on my farm.

[Anonymous]

Are there hunting seasons in Canada for wild pigs?

[Anonymous]

Are there hunting seasons in Canada for wild pigs?

Saskatchewan allows it. I don't know when and I don't know which zones in the province.

[Frood]

I don't believe we need a season here since they're classed as invasive pests....