A new website has joined the fight against invasive wild pigs in Canada, aiming to offer tools, information and resources to educate the public and offer them a way to report wild pig sightings.
New wild pig website launches in Canada
Anti-ASF funds designated for Manitoba Pork
Three initiatives will be funded through the federal African swine fever preparedness program
The Manitoba Pork Council’s efforts against African swine fever now have almost $1 million in extra financial padding. On Aug. 3, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced $944,340 in funding for Manitoba’s hog farm group. Funds were provided through AAFC’s African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program and were slotted for three initiatives: Squeal on Pigs, increased […] Read more
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
Alarm bells are finally ringing as wild pig numbers soar
Spread of planet’s ‘worst invasive large mammal’ is prompting action — including a controversial bounty
Reading Time: 6 minutes There’s a growing realization that wild pigs are becoming a major threat to Prairie agriculture — but also concern that a new provincial bounty could worsen the problem. “Wild pigs are the worst invasive large mammal on the planet,” said Ryan Brook, a USask associate professor of animal sciences and the country’s leading expert on […] Read more
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
PHOTOS: Wild pigs a growing threat
Reading Time: < 1 minute Feral pigs are spreading across Alberta. What are the signs of their presence? What should you do if you spot tracks or if you suspect they’re in your area? Find out here.
Ontario moves to phase out wild boar farming
Province, feds fund swine fever defense plans
Hoping to improve its odds against African swine fever ever getting a toehold in Canada’s hog herds, Ontario plans to regulate Eurasian wild boar as an invasive species starting in the new year. To that end, the province is making funding available to farmers who actively breed and raise wild boar to “shift to other […] Read more
Albertans urged to squeal on wild pigs
Reading Time: < 1 minute Anyone spotting wild boars is asked to report the sighting to the Alberta Invasive Species Council, which has launched a campaign called Squeal on Pigs. Anyone who sees the wild pigs or comes across damage they have caused is urged to either call 310-FARM, email [email protected], or use the EDDMaps app (Early Detection and Distribution […] Read more
Wild pigs a growing problem not many seem to care about
Alberta is the only province with a control strategy — but it’s still in the pilot program phase
Reading Time: 4 minutes Since their numbers are unknown and the wily animals are rarely spotted, it’s been easy to ignore the problem of wild pigs. But given their potential to spread disease, that’s a mistake, says the country’s leading — and pretty much only — expert on wild boars. The animals — whose population has mushroomed in the […] Read more
USDA analyzing effects of wild pigs on crops, livestock
Chicago | Reuters –– The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Friday it has started analyzing for the first time data it has collected on the impact that wild pigs have on U.S. farmers’ crop and livestock operations. It is estimated by federal and state agricultural officials that there are more than five million wild […] Read more
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