Wild boar in Alberta. Photo: Government of Alberta

Alberta cracks down on wild boar

Changes to wild boar program to restrict hunting and farming wild boar in Alberta

Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta has implemented strict new regulations to eradicate invasive wild boar. Learn about the 2025 ban on wild boar farming, new hunting restrictions for landowners, and the provincial compensation program for producers.



Zebra and quagga mussels can reproduce quickly and attach to any hard surface, causing various problems. They could have a serious impact if they found their way into a jurisdiction’s waterways.

Alberta irrigators continue efforts to keep out zebra mussels

The invasive species would cause significant damage to the province’s irrigation infrastructure if they were to gain a foothold

Reading Time: 2 minutes Zebra mussels could be incredibly damaging to Alberta’s waterways and irrigation districts if the invasive species were to make its way to Alberta.



A wild boar running from danger, autumn colours behind him

Survey aims to keep tabs on wild pigs

Reading Time: < 1 minute If you’ve seen wild pigs on your cattle operation, researchers at the University of Calgary want to hear from you. The survey intro notes that wild pigs can transmit diseases to a herd and “because pathogens can be transmitted in many ways, it is crucial to understand how wild pigs interact with livestock and how […] Read more


Farmers can’t hunt wild boars on their property or allow others to hunt or trap them.

Wildlife compensation program now covers damage by wild boars

Reading Time: < 1 minute The growing threat of wild boars in Alberta has prompted Agriculture Financial Services Corporation to include the invasive species in its Wildlife Damage Compensation Program. “The program will compensate producers for wild boar damage to eligible unharvested hay crops and eligible annual unharvested crops, wildlife-excreta contaminated crops, stacked greenfeed and silage in pits and tubes,” […] Read more

A group of wild boars running in Europe, where the pigs have caused challenges with disease spread. (iStock/Getty Images)

Saskatchewan to license, limit wild boar farming

Moratorium placed on any new farms

Saskatchewan is tightening its rules on wild boar farming, including a moratorium on any new farms, in a renewed bid to keep the province’s feral pig population in check. The provincial ag ministry announced the moratorium Wednesday and said it’s “developing regulations for licensing existing commercial wild boar farms.” Regulations for wild boar and feral […] Read more


Wild pigs are attracted by the smells from a hog barn or pig manure, says researcher Ryan Brook.

Wild pigs could be superspreaders of disease, expert warns

Wild pigs are attracted to hog farms and can indirectly spread diseases such as porcine epidemic diarrhea

Reading Time: 4 minutes Experts worry wild pigs on the Prairies and domestic hogs are on a collision course — and the fallout could be enormous if PED ever infects the wild population. “We know globally from a lot of research and monitoring that wild pigs can be very serious reservoirs of disease and hold the disease,” said Ryan […] Read more