Photos courtesy of Dr. Ryan Brook, University of Saskatchewan
Feral Wild Pigs
Common Name: feral swine or feral wild boar
Species: sus scrofa
Other names: wild hog, feral pig, wild boar, feral swine/feral wild boar, old world swine, razorback
Origin: Eurasia
What is a wild pig?
The term “wild pig” refers to any pig “outside of a fence” and includes domestic pigs that have become wild (or ‘feral’) and ownership cannot be determined; and Eurasian wild boar, and hybrids of domestic pigs and Eurasian wild boar. It can be difficult to visually distinguish between the three.
Are wild pigs native to Saskatchewan?
Wild pigs were introduced across western Canada in the 1980s and 1990’s as part of a broad initiative to diversify agriculture. They were first introduced to Saskatchewan in the (Wilkins and Dobbs 2013). Over the years some animals escaped from farms and were able to establish herds that continue to grow as they are elusive with few predators.
How do they survive harsh Canadian prairie winters?
Wild pigs are extremely adaptable to their surroundings. In winter they rely on nests built of cattails for shelter. They also have long dark hair and a woolly undercoat that helps them to survive cold winter climates.
What do they eat?
Wild pigs are opportunistic omnivores and eat a variety of plants, roots and animals. Rooting up the ground causes extensive damage and groups of wild pigs have been known to destroy acres of crop overnight.
Why are we concerned?
Wild pigs are not native to Canada and are considered an invasive species. They damage private property and have a serious impact on native plants and wild animals due to their feeding habits and reproductive capability. Wild boar can easily produce up to two litters a year, with four to 12 piglets in each litter. Their numbers continue to grow as they have very few predators.
Rooting and wallowing behavior causes extensive environmental damage to fragile ecosystems, resulting in soil erosion and water contamination which can threaten rare or endangered native animals and waterfowl.
Diseases
Feral pigs can also carry parasites, viruses or diseases that can be transmitted to domestic livestock, wildlife, and even humans. Specifically, they can carry African Swine Fever, Pseudorabies, Swine Brucellosis and the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus. These diseases, if introduced to domestic swine herds, would have a detrimental effect on pig production and result in severe financial losses for Canadian hog producers.
Saskatchewan Feral Wild Boar Control Program
Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Program (SCIC) has an established boar control program in the province. When boar sightings are reported, SCIC helps coordinate with qualified hunters and trappers and landowners within Rural Municipalities (RMs) to investigate reports and take appropriate action and remove the boar. What to do if you have crop or livestock damage from wild boar? SCIC can provide compensation for any crop or livestock damage caused by the pest. Visit Crop Damage Compensation or Predation Compensation to learn how SCIC can help.
How can you help?
If you see a wild pig or have information about a sighting:
Call 1-833-PIGSPOT (833-744-7768)
Note the date, time and location of sightings (intersecting roads, landmarks or GPS coordinates are helpful).
Take pictures or a video, if possible.
Note the number of pigs and whether piglets are present. Let us know if this is an isolated sighting or if it was the same animals spotted multiple times.
You can also contact your nearest Crop Insurance office or call 1-888-935-0000
https://www.scic.ca/wildlife/feral-wild-boar-control-program/
More information and articles on wild pigs in Saskatchewan:
https://www.scic.ca/wildlife/feral-wild-boar-control-program/
References
Wlkins, W., and S. Dobbs. 2013. Have you seen feral wild boar? Accessed 2 Jul 2013.
https://www.scic.ca/wildlife/feral-wild-boar-control-program/
https://www.ontario.ca/page/reporting-wild-pigs-ontario
https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/wild-boar-at-large-an-invasive-pest-in-alberta
https://abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/FS-FeralPig.pdf
