Efforts to raise public awareness about the dangers of wild pigs in Manitoba are proving successful, according to Dr. Wayne Lees, Coordinator of Squeal on Pigs Manitoba.
Wild pigs pose a significant environmental and agricultural risk—destroying landscapes, competing with native species for food, consuming small animals and birds’ eggs, and potentially spreading diseases, including foreign animal diseases like African Swine Fever.
Dr. Lees says that through a combination of media campaigns, community presentations, and partnerships with government and producer organizations, the initiative has made meaningful progress in building public understanding of the issue.
The program serves as a central point of coordination among stakeholders, sharing data and strategies across provincial and national lines. This includes exchanging mapping information, developing new trapping and detection techniques, and strengthening communication across multiple jurisdictions.
Dr. Lees notes that more Manitobans—particularly farmers, landowners, and outdoor enthusiasts—are recognizing the importance of reporting sightings of wild pigs. This public involvement has become key to ongoing eradication efforts.
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