Wild boar at large are one of the most damaging invasive species in North America.
Hunting is not an effective control option.
Did you know
Feral pigs (also known as wild boar at large) are one of the most damaging invasive species in North America! Some folks are keen to hunt wild boar at large but this is not a viable control option.
We are asking for your help to report observations of wild boar at large and damage they may have caused using the AISC’s free invasive species reporting app, EDDMapS (iPhone or Android), by emailing firstname.lastname@example.org, calling 310-FARM, or by contacting your local municipality.
More information can be found by accessing AISC's resources below.
Wild boar at large were introduced to Alberta in the 1980s and ‘90s as livestock species in an effort to diversify agriculture. Since then, many have escaped their enclosures and thrived as a feral species, causing damage to crops, pastures, property and the environment. Specifically, wild boar at large can devastate crops and can predate livestock such as goats and newborn cattle. While there are no Canadian estimates, agricultural damage in the United States caused by wild boar at large 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. A recent risk assessment undertaken by Alberta Irrigation indicated that potential disease transfer from wild boar at large to livestock is a significant threat. There are some remaining wild boar farms in Alberta but these are required to meet stringent containment standards to operate.
Potential for Disease Spread
Wild boar at large pose serious risk to the domestic hog and beef industry because of the potential for disease transmission to hogs and cattle. 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 big consequences. An example is foot and mouth disease; an outbreak would trigger a complete and immediate shut down of all Alberta pork and beef exports, and cost $65 billion dollars nationwide. For decades researchers have warned of this risk, which increases with the growing wild boar at large population.
Hunting Wild Boar at Large and Alberta’s Bounty Program
Recognizing these threats, initial control efforts in the form of a bounty program were implemented, and hunters could turn in wild boar at large ears in exchange for $50. These hunting efforts were later deemed ineffective and may 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. They pass these tricks on to following generations. The only way to effectively eliminate wild boar at large in an area is by eradicating the entire sounder simultaneously.
Alberta Pork & Alberta Irrigation’s Wild Boar at Large Control Program
In response, Alberta Pork and Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation have established a Wild Boar At Large Eradication Project, which involves coordinated and strategic removal of entire sounders. If you spot wild boar at large or suspect wild boar at large damage, submit a report using EDDMapS, AISC’s free smartphone app for reporting invasive species, email email@example.com, call 310-FARM, or contact your local municipality. All reports are provided to the Alberta Pork and the Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation Wild Boar At Large Control Team who work with local stakeholders to come up with solutions. This program relies on Albertans to report observations of wild boar at large. However, awareness of wild boar at large remains low and is a potential barrier to the success of the project.
Need for Increased Awareness
Increasing awareness of the issue of wild boar at large is critical to the success of the AAI Wild Boar At Large Control Program. A 2013 survey conducted by researchers in Saskatchewan, the wild boar at large epicenter of Canada, found that most rural municipalities were unaware of the risks associated with wild boar at large and did not know how to manage them (Brook and van Beest 2014). The authors argued the social perception of this issue and lack of awareness is a barrier to the effectiveness of long-term management of this invasive pest species. Further, a common misconception among those who are aware of wild boar at large is that hunting is a viable control option. However, as mentioned above, hunting compounds the issue and makes control of wild boar at large more difficult. There is a need to promote awareness of this issue and provide current information about best practices associated with effective wild boar at large management.
Expansion of wild boar across Canada from 1995 to 2021.
Squeal on Pigs!
To raise awareness, Oregon, Washington and Idaho collaboratively developed the ‘Squeal on Pigs!’ campaign (later adopted by Montana) to encourage the public to report observations of wild boar at large. Recently, the Transboundary Feral Swine Working Group redesigned the 'Squeal on Pigs!' logo and graphics. The Alberta Invasive Species Council is grateful to these organizations, for allowing us to adapt, adopt and promote the ‘Squeal on Pigs!’ Campaign to raise awareness of this issue in Alberta.
Both web and print-quality images are available for promotion, contact firstname.lastname@example.org, if you are interested. Please feel free to promote these images on your websites, newsletters, or wherever you see fit!
Squeal on Pigs! 'Wild Boar at Large' Virtual Forum
The AISC hosted a virtual forum for wild boar at large in Alberta on May 11th, 2022. Discussions with experts in the field focused on wild boar at large in the province, lessons learned from other areas and how to move forward. Panelist were:
- Michael J Bodenchuk, Texas State Director, USDA APHIS WS
- Dr. Ryan Brook, Associate Professor, University of Saskatchewan
- Charlotte Shipp, Industry Programs Manager, Alberta Pork
- Dawn Fortin, Manager Agriculture Services, Woodlands County
- Jurgen Preugschas, Alberta Producer
Additional information can be found at:
- Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation's Eradication of Wild Boar-at-Large: Strategy Document
- Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation's Wild Boar Control Program
- Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation's Wild Boar at Large Fact Sheet
- AFSC's Wildlife Damage Compensation Program
- AISC's Feral Pig Fact Sheet.
- AISC's Squeal on Pigs Quick Facts Card
- AISC's Squeal on Pigs Infographic
- AISC's Squeal on Pigs Colouring Page
Nguruwe wa mwituni ni mojawapo ya spishi zenye kuharibu zaidi katika Amerika Kaskazini. Uwindaji si njia yenye matokeo ya kudhibiti. Je, ulijua kwamba nguruwe wa mwituni (wanaojulikana pia kama nguruwe wa mwituni) ni mojawapo ya spishi zenye kuharibu zaidi katika Amerika Kaskazini! Watu fulani wanapenda kuwinda nguruwe wa mwituni kwa uhuru lakini hiyo si njia inayofaa ya kuwalinda. "Tunaomba msaada wako kuripoti uchunguzi wa mbwa mwitu huru na uharibifu ambao wanaweza kusababisha kwa kutumia AISC ya bure ya ""mbwa mwitu"" ripoti ya aina ya programu, EDMaps (iPhone au Android), kwa barua pepe firstname.lastname@example.org, wito 310-FARM, au kwa kuwasiliana na manispaa yako ya ndani. """ Habari zaidi inaweza kupatikana kwa kupata rasilimali za AISC hapa chini. Mnyama huyo alianzishwa katika Alberta katika miaka ya 1980 na 1990 kama aina ya mifugo katika juhudi za kupanua kilimo. Tangu wakati huo, wengi wameponyoka na kusitawi kama spishi za mwituni, na kusababisha uharibifu wa mazao, malisho, mali na mazingira. Kwa mfano, mbwa mwitu wanaweza kuharibu mazao na wanyama kama vile mbuzi na ng'ombe wachanga. Ingawa hakuna makadirio ya Kanada, uharibifu wa kilimo nchini Marekani unaosababishwa na mbwa mwitu kwa ujumla unakadiriwa kuwa dola bilioni 1.5 kila mwaka. Jambo lenye kutia wasiwasi hata zaidi ni uwezekano wa kuambukizwa kwa ugonjwa kutoka kwa nguruwe wa mwituni hadi kwa viwanda vya ufugaji wa mifugo vya Alberta. Tathmini ya hatari ya hivi karibuni iliyofanywa na Alberta Irrigation ilionyesha kwamba uwezekano wa kuhamishwa kwa ugonjwa kutoka kwa mbwa mwitu kwa mifugo ni tishio kubwa. Kuna baadhi ya mabaki ya mifugo ya mbwa mwitu katika Alberta lakini hizi zinahitajika kukidhi viwango vya ukandamizaji mkali wa kufanya kazi. Uwezekano wa kuenea kwa magonjwa: Nguruwe wa mwituni katika mazingira ya kawaida huunda hatari kubwa kwa sekta ya nguruwe na nyama ya ng'ombe ya ndani kwa sababu ya uwezekano wa kuambukizwa kwa magonjwa kwa nguruwe na ng'ombe. Kwa ujumla, mbwa mwitu huambukiza magonjwa 89 ambayo yanaweza kuambukizwa kwa wanyama, wanadamu na wanyama wa porini, na baadhi ya magonjwa hayo huwa na athari kubwa. Mlipuko wa ugonjwa wa mdomo na mguu wa Alberta unaweza kusababisha kuondolewa kwa bidhaa zote za nyama ya nguruwe na ng'ombe na gharama ya $ 65 bilioni. Kwa miongo kadhaa, watafiti wamekuwa wakionya juu ya hatari hiyo, ambayo inaongezeka kadiri idadi ya mbwa mwitu inavyoongezeka. Kwa sababu ya hatari ya kuambukizwa na virusi vya corona, serikali ya Alberta ilianzisha mpango wa kuwinda mbwa mwitu kwa kulipa dola 50. Baadaye jitihada hizo za kuwinda zilionwa kuwa hazina matokeo na huenda hata zilizidisha tatizo hilo. Nguruwe wa mwituni ni wajanja sana na wakati watu wachache tu wanapowinda kutoka kwa kundi kubwa (inaitwa sounder), nguruwe waliobaki hujifunza haraka kuepuka juhudi za uwindaji za baadaye kwa kutawanyika, kubadilisha mifumo ya harakati, na kuwa wa usiku. Wao hupitisha mbinu hizo kwa vizazi vinavyofuata. Njia pekee ya kuondoa kwa ufanisi mbwa mwitu katika eneo fulani ni kwa kuondoa sounder nzima kwa wakati mmoja. Alberta Pork & Alberta Irrigation's Wild Boar at Large Control Program Kwa kujibu, Alberta Pork na Alberta Kilimo na Utiririshaji wameanzisha Mradi wa Uondoaji wa Punda wa Pori Katika Large, ambayo inahusisha kuondolewa kwa utaratibu na kimkakati kwa sounders nzima. Ikiwa unaona mbwa mwitu katika mazingira ya kawaida au unafikiri mbwa mwitu ana uharibifu mkubwa, kuwasilisha ripoti kwa kutumia EDMapps, AISC ya bure ya simu ya mkononi kwa ajili ya kuripoti spishi za uvamizi, barua pepe email@example.com, piga simu 310-FARM, au wasiliana na manispaa yako ya ndani. Ripoti zote hutolewa kwa Alberta Pork na Alberta Kilimo na Utiririshaji Wild Boar At Large Control Team ambao hufanya kazi na wadau wa ndani ili kupata suluhisho. Programu hii hutegemea watu wa Alberta kuripoti uchunguzi wa mbwa mwitu waliopo huru. Hata hivyo, ufahamu wa mbwa mwitu huru bado ni mdogo na ni kizuizi cha uwezekano wa mafanikio ya mradi huo. "Kuweka ""mwisho wa kuondoa"" kwa uvuvi wa nguruwe wa mwituni ni muhimu kwa mafanikio ya mpango wa AAI wa kudhibiti nguruwe wa mwituni." Uchunguzi uliofanywa na watafiti huko Saskatchewan, Canada, uligundua kuwa manispaa nyingi za vijijini hazijui hatari zinazohusiana na mbwa mwitu na hazijui jinsi ya kuzisimamia. "Wanahabari wanasema kuwa ""maoni ya kijamii ya suala hili na ukosefu wa ufahamu ni kizuizi kwa ufanisi wa usimamizi wa muda mrefu wa aina hii ya wadudu wa uvamizi.""" Isitoshe, watu wanaofahamu kuhusu mbwa-mwitu wana maoni yasiyofaa kwamba kuwinda ni njia nzuri ya kuwazuia. Hata hivyo, kama ilivyotajwa hapo juu, uwindaji huongeza tatizo hilo na kufanya iwe vigumu zaidi kudhibiti nguruwe wa mwituni. Kuna haja ya kukuza ufahamu wa suala hili na kutoa habari ya sasa kuhusu mazoea bora yanayohusiana na usimamizi mzuri wa mbwa mwitu katika usimamizi mkubwa. Upanuaji wa mbwa mwitu nchini Canada kutoka 1995 hadi 2021 Piga kelele juu ya Nguruwe! Ili kuongeza ufahamu, Oregon, Washington na Idaho kwa ushirikiano waliendeleza kampeni ya <unk>Squeal on Pigs!<unk> (baadaye ilichukuliwa na Montana) kuhamasisha umma kuripoti uchunguzi wa nguruwe wa mwituni kwa uhuru. Hivi karibuni, Kikundi cha Kazi cha Nguruwe Wenye Mipaka ya Mipaka kilibadilisha muundo wa 'Squeal on Pigs!' Nembo na Graphics Baraza la Alberta Invasive Species ni shukrani kwa mashirika haya, kwa kuruhusu sisi kurekebisha, kupitisha na kukuza <unk>Squeal juu ya nguruwe!<unk> kampeni ya kuongeza ufahamu wa suala hili katika Alberta. Picha za ubora wa wavuti na uchapishaji zinapatikana kwa kukuza, wasiliana na jina la kwanza. jina la mwisho@example.org, ikiwa una nia. Tafadhali jisikie huru kukuza picha hizi kwenye tovuti zako, jarida, au mahali popote unapoona inafaa! Piga kelele juu ya Nguruwe! Mkutano wa Virtual wa Nguruwe wa Pori katika Alberta (AISC) ulifanyika mnamo Mei 11, 2022. Mazungumzo na wataalamu katika uwanja huo yalizingatia mbweha wa mwituni katika mkoa huo, masomo yaliyopatikana kutoka maeneo mengine na jinsi ya kusonga mbele. "Mwanamkubwa wa Alberta, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Mkurugenzi wa Jimbo la Texas, USDA APHIS, Mkurugenzi wa Chuo Kikuu cha Saskatchewan, Charlotte Shipp, Mkurugenzi wa Programu za Viwanda, Alberta Pork, Mkurugenzi wa Huduma za Kilimo, Woodlands County, J. J. Preuksch, Mtayarishaji wa Alberta, na Mkurugenzi wa Chuo Kikuu cha Alberta, Michael J. Bodenchuk, Mkurugenzi wa Jimbo la Texas, USDA APHIS, na Daktari Ryan Brook, Profesa Mshirika, Chuo Kikuu cha Saskatchewan, Charlotte Shipp, Alberta Pork, Mkurugenzi wa Maelezo ya Uharibifu wa AFSC, na AISC.""" AISC's Squeal on Pigs Quick Facts Card - AISC's Squeal on Pigs Infographic - AISC's Squeal on Pigs Coloring Page