The Menace of ‘Super Pigs’ Threatening North America
Proliferating in Canada, “super pigs,” a hybrid of Eurasian wild boar and domestic swine, pose a threat to invade the U.S., causing significant agricultural damage and spreading disease. Described as an “ecological train wreck,” aggressive measures are deemed necessary for effective control.
By Beth Snider · November 30, 2023
A looming threat from Canada, in the form of hard-to-eradicate “super pigs,” has raised concerns about a potential invasion of the United States. These formidable creatures are a hybrid of Eurasian wild boar and domestic swine, creating a population explosion in Canada that is now on the verge of spilling into northern U.S. states like Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana.
The wild pigs, prevalent in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, pose a unique danger due to their crossbreeding, combining the survival instincts of wild Eurasian boar with the prolific breeding capabilities of domestic swine. With a sow capable of producing six piglets per litter and raising two litters annually, there is a genuine risk of an uncontrollable population surge making its way south.
Ryan Brook, a prominent authority on the issue and a professor at the University of Saskatchewan, describes feral swine as “the most invasive animal on the planet” and likens them to an “ecological train wreck.” The origins of the problem trace back to the 1980s when Canadian farmers, encouraged to raise wild boar, witnessed a market collapse in 2001. Frustrated farmers, facing the aftermath, released the pigs into the wild, unknowingly setting the stage for a pervasive ecological challenge.
These intelligent and adaptable creatures, well-suited to surviving harsh Canadian winters, exhibit a voracious appetite, consuming crops and wildlife alike. Their destructive behavior, including rooting for bugs and crops, leads to significant land damage. Moreover, they pose a threat by spreading diseases like African swine fever to hog farms. The invasion of “super pigs” isn’t a concern confined to Canada; it is a shared problem with the United States. The Department of Agriculture reports that feral swine have multiplied to over 9 million across more than three-quarters of the U.S. since their introduction in the 1500s. States like California, Hawaii, and Michigan have witnessed a notable feral hog population expansion.
Even when over 65% of the wild pig population is eliminated annually, their numbers continue to grow. The success rate for hunters is a mere 2-3%, and the use of hunting may exacerbate the problem by making the pigs more elusive and nocturnal. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the annual agricultural damages caused by feral hogs amount to approximately $2.5 billion. These creatures are persistent with their quick reproduction and survival in various environments, presenting a significant challenge to mitigation efforts.
Conservationists in some states are striving for total feral hog elimination, employing various tactics such as public hunting, fencing, trapping, and other mitigation measures. In Missouri, the Feral Hog Elimination Partnership eliminated 9,857 feral hogs in 2021, contributing to a total of more than 54,000 since 2016, challenges persist, with hogs often relocating in response to hunting pressures.
Certain states, such as Florida, Georgia, and Texas, bear the brunt of feral hog issues. In 2023 alone, Texas reported 2,425 feral hog sightings, followed by 1,377 in Georgia. The rising concern over the potential invasion of “super pigs” into northern U.S. states has prompted officials to explore aggressive measures, including ground traps, net guns fired from helicopters, and crowdsourced tracking programs. As the threat looms, experts emphasize the need for a comprehensive and aggressive approach to eliminate the impact of these highly destructive “super pigs” on both Canadian and American ecosystems. The shared challenge requires collaborative efforts to prevent further ecological disruption and protect agricultural interests on both sides of the border.