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CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
New campaign encourages B.C. to 'squeal' on invasive pigs
Escaped domestic pigs are no joke. That's the message behind a new awareness campaign from the Invasive Species Council of B.C. aimed at preventing feral pig populations from growing and thriving in British Columbia, as they have elsewhere in North America. The campaign encourages British Columbians to "squeal on pigs" they believe have escaped into the wild, and offers farmers tips on how to prevent their animals from getting loose. "It's one of the species that we want to be very, very careful with," said Stanley Troyer, who grew up on a ranch and now owns a custom meat-cutting shop in Fort St. John in northeast B.C., one of the regions of the province where feral pigs are most likely to thrive. He said he once helped a friend track down a loose hog that travelled more than 50 kilometres in the middle of winter — a reminder of the animal's ability to survive in northern climates. "It's important that we don't underestimate the ability of hogs," he said. Gail Wallin, executive director of the Invasive Species Council of B.C., said escaped domesticated pigs can cause environmental damage and spread disease. "They're rooters. They'll destroy your crops or your wetlands or whatever lands are really important for other native species," she said. The campaign features pigs in places they shouldn't be — grocery stores, tractors, and kitchen cupboards — and asks people to act if they see any in real life. Wallin said the council has spent the last year working on resources for local governments and pork producers, as well as things like kids' activity books, to support the campaign. She said anyone who spots a pig can report it online through the council's website, by using an invasive species app or by calling in with information. She said having a photo of the animal is particularly important. "If it's a pig outside a fence, it's illegal in British Columbia. So, that goes to the province, and the province works out a response," she said. An alert posted by the provincial government said feral pigs have been reported in low numbers in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Thompson-Okanagan, Peace, Chilcotin and Kootenay regions. It said many were released or escaped from farms but they "have not yet established large populations in the province." Wallin said her organization has seen the damage invasive pigs can cause in other provinces, as well as in the United States, and it's a growing concern. "We don't want that here in British Columbia," she said. "We want to catch them when they're still in their early stages, and prevent new ones from coming in." Wild boars that aren't being raised as livestock are considered an invasive species in Alberta and are a provincially regulated "agricultural pest." The government of Alberta has said the pigs can compete with wildlife and destroy other sensitive natural habitats. The Alberta Invasive Species Council said that while there are no Canadian estimates, agricultural damage in the U.S. caused by wild boar at large is estimated to be $1.5 billion each year.
Global News
2 days ago
- General
- Global News
See a loose pig in B.C.? Officials want you to ‘squeal' on it
Have you seen a pig running loose anywhere in B.C.? If so, officials want you to squeal on that little porker. That's the message of a new campaign from the Invasive Species Council of B.C., and while the framing is silly, the issue is no joke. Feral pigs have become a massive global problem, damaging crops, ecosystems and infrastructure, posing a potential health hazard and, in some cases, getting aggressive with people. The good news is that while feral pigs have become established in the United States and on the Canadian prairies, they haven't got a foothold in B.C. yet. It's something the Invasive Species Council is looking to prevent. 2:14 Pigs cause damage to Vancouver Island golf course 'We've seen the damage invasive pigs can cause in other provinces, and we have a real opportunity in B.C. to prevent that from happening here,' said Gail Wallin, executive director of the Invasive Species Council of B.C. Story continues below advertisement 'That's why we've launched this campaign — to raise awareness and remind people that their observations matter. Whether you're on the land every day or out for a weekend hike, early reporting of pigs on the land makes all the difference.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The Invasive Species Council says feral pigs are not known yet to be established in B.C., but that there have been more than three dozen confirmed sightings. Invasive pigs can be Eurasian boars, domestic pigs, and hybrids that escaped, have been released, or were born in the wild. And they breed quickly. The Invasive Species Council says they're capable of producing two litters a year, with up to a dozen piglets per litter. Ryan Brook, a professor of agriculture of agribusiness and bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan, said B.C. has a chance to get ahead of the problem. He said the U.S. has an estimated population of 7 million feral pigs, who do an estimated $2.5 billion in crop damage every year. There's no firm population estimate on the Canadian prairies, he said, but added they have 'spread like wildfire' and it's believed there have been more than 70,000 since the 1980s. Wild pigs have also been spotted in all provinces and at least one territory. 5:00 Experts urge action on feral pig problem in regions of B.C. 'I think we really serve as a cautionary tale of in all kinds of ways, frankly, don't do what we get ahead of it sooner and avoid the catastrophe that we have underway right now,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'They can spread diseases to humans, to pets, wildlife and livestock, but they can also be a public health nuisance. They can be dangerous, they do travel in groups we call 'sounders', and certainly we've seen aggressive behaviours.' The health risk is one of the factors the Invasive Species Council is highlighting, warning that invasive pigs could become a reservoir for African swine fever if the disease makes its way to Canada. The group is now urging anyone who sees pigs on the loose anywhere in B.C., but particularly in the Peace, East Chilctoin and area west of Kamloops, to report them immediately. It's a small action Brook said could make a big difference in preventing the animals from becoming established. 'B.C. is a huge province. It covers a massive area, and there aren't enough airplanes and helicopters and trail cameras to cover all of it,' he said. 'So eyes on the land of people that are hunters and hikers and recreationists and people delivering the mail, people driving school buses, everybody out there that spends a lot of time outside has the chance to see these and report them in and get those in a timely manner so they can react quickly.'
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
New campaign encourages B.C. to ‘squeal' on invasive pigs
WILLIAMS LAKE — British Columbia's Invasive Species Council says the province needs to get ahead of the potential risk of invasive pigs before they gain a foothold the way they have elsewhere in Canada. The council says the animals cause extensive damage to ecosystems, farmland, and infrastructure and can spread diseases. A new awareness campaign is encouraging British Columbians 'squeal' on pigs by reporting any feral pigs they spot. The campaign features pigs in places they shouldn't be — grocery stores, tractors, and kitchen cupboards — and asks people to act if they see any in real life. An alert posted by the provincial government says feral pigs have been reported in low numbers in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Thompson-Okanagan, Peace, Chilcotin and Kootenay Regions. It says many were released or escaped from farms but they 'have not yet established large populations in the province.' Gail Wallin, executive director of the Invasive Species Council of B.C., says the organization has seen the damage invasive pigs can cause in other provinces. 'That's why we've launched this campaign — to raise awareness and remind people that their observations matter. Whether you're on the land every day or out for a weekend hike, early reporting of pigs on the land makes all the difference,' she says. Wild boars not being raised as livestock are considered an invasive species in Alberta and are a provincially regulated 'agricultural pest.' The government of Alberta says the pigs can compete with wildlife and destroy other sensitive natural habitats. The Alberta Invasive Species Council says 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. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2025
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
New campaign encourages B.C. to ‘squeal' on invasive pigs
WILLIAMS LAKE – British Columbia's Invasive Species Council says the province needs to get ahead of the potential risk of invasive pigs before they gain a foothold the way they have elsewhere in Canada. The council says the animals cause extensive damage to ecosystems, farmland, and infrastructure and can spread diseases. A new awareness campaign is encouraging British Columbians 'squeal' on pigs by reporting any feral pigs they spot. The campaign features pigs in places they shouldn't be — grocery stores, tractors, and kitchen cupboards — and asks people to act if they see any in real life. An alert posted by the provincial government says feral pigs have been reported in low numbers in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Thompson-Okanagan, Peace, Chilcotin and Kootenay Regions. It says many were released or escaped from farms but they 'have not yet established large populations in the province.' Gail Wallin, executive director of the Invasive Species Council of B.C., says the organization has seen the damage invasive pigs can cause in other provinces. 'That's why we've launched this campaign — to raise awareness and remind people that their observations matter. Whether you're on the land every day or out for a weekend hike, early reporting of pigs on the land makes all the difference,' she says. Wild boars not being raised as livestock are considered an invasive species in Alberta and are a provincially regulated 'agricultural pest.' The government of Alberta says the pigs can compete with wildlife and destroy other sensitive natural habitats. The Alberta Invasive Species Council says 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. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2025
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Vancouver Sun
Squeal on them: Wild super-porkers on the loose spark public awareness campaign
The question posed by rural Canadians (probably): what do you do about the 30 to 50 feral hogs that run into your yard within three to five minutes while your small kids play? Answer: You squeal on 'em . The Invasive Species Council of B.C. is launching its contribution of a cross-border public awareness campaign on Wednesday, highlighting the real damage that invasive feral pigs cause to ecosystems, farmland and infrastructure. They tear up the ground while searching for roots and bugs to eat, though they will eat just about anything they can get in their mouths. The humorous campaign features pigs in places they shouldn't be — grocery stores, tractors and kitchen cupboards — but underscores its serious message: invasive pigs are a real threat. Wild swine have been a problem in Canada and the U.S. for years, including American fears of Canadian 'Super Pigs' flying south across the border from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and running rampant in rural states. '30-50 feral hogs' day is one of the great days in the history of Twitter. With sows capable of having two litters a year, averaging six piglets a litter, they're capable of explosive population growth. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'We've seen the damage invasive pigs can cause in other provinces, and we have a real opportunity in B.C. to prevent that from happening here,' said Gail Wallin, executive director of the Invasive Species Council of B.C. 'That's why we've launched this campaign — to raise awareness and remind people that their observations matter. Whether you're on the land every day or out for a weekend hike, early reporting of pigs on the land makes all the difference.' It's not just the physical damage that is of concern. Should a disease like African swine fever ever reach the Canadian wild population, the feral population could act as a reservoir and make future outbreaks difficult to contain. That could devastate Canadian pork farm stock. B.C. law requires all farm pigs to be securely fenced. Pigs aren't native to North America, but were introduced from Europe, Asia and North Africa for farming, hunting and as pets. The porkers who went on the lam crossbred with wild boars, with their hybrids — which can range from 75 to 250 pounds — becoming Canada's most destructive large mammal. The problem has been around for decades, when farmers used to raise wild boar. But when the market dried up, many stocks were just set free to roam the country, surprisingly proving resistant to harsh Canadian winters. Watch for their tracks and signs of wallows — large, shallow muddy pits — which they use to cool down in and protect their skin. Use the Invasive Species Council of B.C. website or call their toll-free number 1-888-933-3722 to make a report. Invasive pigs have been seen across B.C., but especially in the Peace River region, east Chilcotin and west of Kamloops.
