Due to the invasion of wild boar into Alberta, the Alberta Invasive Species Council (AISC) is promoting a province-wide campaign titled Squeal on Pigs.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of wild boar in Alberta, as they are an invasive and destructive species, according to AISC executive director Megan Evans.
“We are one of the only provinces in Canada that actually has a wild boar at large control program,” she said. “That makes us really unique. This campaign is aiming to compliment the program.”
According to Evans, wild boar were introduced to Alberta in the 1980s and ‘90s as livestock to diversify agriculture. Since then, many of the animals have escaped their enclosures and thrived as a feral species, causing damage to crops, pastures, property and the environment.
An AISC press release states that, while there are few Canadian estimates, agricultural damage in the United States caused by wild boar is estimated to be $1.5 billion each year.
“Even more concerning is the potential for disease transfer from wild boar at large to Alberta’s livestock industry,” the release stated.
A recent risk assessment undertaken by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry indicated that potential disease transfer from wild boar to livestock is a significant threat, according to AISC’s release. While there are some remaining wild boar farms in Alberta, the council stated these are required “to meet stringent containment standards to operate.”
AISC stated wild boar at large are known to host 89 different diseases that can be transmitted to livestock, humans, and wildlife – some of which come with significant consequences.
“An example is foot and mouth disease; an outbreak would trigger a complete and immediate shutdown of all Alberta pork and beef exports, and cost $65 billion nation-wide,” the release stated. “For decades, researchers have warned of this risk, which continues to increase with the growing wild boar at large population in Alberta.”
Traditionally in Alberta, control efforts to keep the wild boar population down included a bounty program, through which hunters could turn in wild boar at large ears in exchange for $50.
But these hunting efforts were later deemed ineffective, according to Evans, and could have even exacerbated the issue.
“Wild boar are incredibly smart and when only a few individuals are hunted from a larger group – called a sounder – the remaining boar quickly learn to evade future hunting efforts by dispersing, changing movement patterns, and becoming nocturnal,” she said.
Evans added wild boar are even able pass these techniques on to their young, and subsequent generations.
“The only way to effectively eliminate wild boar at large in an area is by eradicating the entire sounder simultaneously,” she said.
With the approach to controlling the population changing, AISC is urging rural property owners to be aware of the possibility of wild boar in their area. According to Evans, Central Alberta is the region with the most wild boar in Alberta, though they can be found throughout the province.
Helpful tips include watching out for trailing under fence lines and recognizing the tracks of a wild boar, which are similar in appearance to deer tracks, but are more rounded at the tip in their overall appearance. Additionally, Evans says to watch for wallowing and rooting damage, along with crop damage.
According to AISC, Albertans who have observed wild boar at large or possible signs of their presence are asked to submit a report through the EDDMapS app, call 310-FARM, email [email protected] or contact their local municipal office.
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @Jay_Strickz
