Public Education Campaign Spreads Word on Risks Posed by Wild Pigs

The Coordinator of Squeal on Pigs Manitoba says public education campaigns are proving successful in building awareness of the damage caused by and the risks posed by wild pigs roaming in the environment. Squeal on Pigs Manitoba, a collaborative effort involving the different partners with a stake in wild pig control in Manitoba, is supported by the federal and provincial governments and the swine industry.

Dr. Wayne Lees, the Coordinator of Squeal on Pigs Manitoba, says a public outreach campaign, which utilises media advertising and public presentations has gotten the word out that these animals need to be gotten rid of.

Quote-Dr. Wayne Lees-Squeal on Pigs Manitoba:

I think the important thing to remember is that these are an invasive species.They don't belong here.They carry an environmental risk in that they do a lot of damage to pastures, they'll root a pasture up and it looks like a rototiller went through it.They'll eat feeds that other animals rely on.They'll eat acorns, they'll eat small animals, they'll eat bird’s eggs so they do really alter the environment that they're in.

From the agricultural point of view, these animals can carry foreign animal diseases and the one that we're really focussing on right now is African Swine Fever.These wild pigs can carry those diseases and spread them around.These pigs can also carry things like tuberculosis and brucellosis so, if they get into a beef herd or something like that, they can be a vector for spreading those types of diseases.And, finally, if these animals are cornered or they feel threatened they can charge at people so they're kind of nasty to deal with and they don't have many redeeming qualities I'm afraid.

Dr. Lees says the public awareness campaign has been successful.He says, through podcasts and articles that are published or through other media outlets word is getting out to the public of the importance of reporting sightings, and most important, to folks who are out on the landscape including nature walkers, landowners and farmers.