Canadian "Super Pig" Invasion

[dilettante]

Not a new story, but this past Fall the problem increased in urgency.

Farmers crossbred a monster. Then when it proved too difficult to control in the face of a dropping market, they just turned them loose decades ago.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I shall refrain from reacting negatively.
Dont civilized pigs turn back to being bores ? Pigs are very intelligent but highly destructive especially in herds.

 

[hawkdon]

I knew about the southern states ferals but this is first
I;ve heard of canada ferals....great....!!!

 

[dilettante]

The main difference here is that these are cold-adapted, which increased their range. Hard to tell whether they might eventually encounter the Southern pigs as they push their range further.

 

[Michael Z]

Well, when they make their way into our area, we will be eating some nice lean pork chops!

 

[Nathan]

Pork roaming the countryside!

 

[hawkdon]

A few years back there were TV reality shows on that was
all about Feral hog hunting.......

 

[dilettante]

So cheaper footballs, boots, and wallets for all?

 

[Jackie23]

Feral hogs are a big problem in Texas.....personally, I would not touch the meat. A few years back they did a lot of damage to my place, tearing up the land.

 

[Lilac]

My friend used to go hunting down south on property owned by family friends of his wife for wild pigs due to the problems they have with them. All of the meat was processed & donated to those in need.

My husband hunted them in southern Ohio, but these were on the small side. I'm surprised with a large hog farm down the road from me that we aren't seeing some that have escaped over the years.

@Jackie23, I'm just curious why you would eat the meat?

 

[JBR]

I'd never heard mention of feral pigs until a relative from down in the U.S. was visiting, and he asked if we had them here. I suppose he'd heard about wild pigs in Texas, or elsewhere in the U.S. And he must've thought it could be an issue here, because my place is surrounded by semi-wilderness and actual wilderness.

Apparently the problem with the "super pigs" originated in the Central Canada province Saskatchewan, over a thousand miles to the east of where I live. Obviously, the breeders & stock keepers of these animals had avoided observing a genetic cautionary principle!

What this map indicates is that the supers are constrained by the Rocky Mountains. (I live in a valley that's three mountain chains west of the Rockies.) I'll admit to being ignorant & naive about what government is prepared to do, but it seems to me a bounty should be put on those pigs, encouraging people to shoot them.

My province (BC) isn't shown on this map, but here is the super-pig distribution in Canada, so it's mainly in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

 

[Jackie23]

Yes,the feral hogs in Texas appear to be different than those JBR is describing.....I would NOT eat the meat of the feral hogs because to be it seems too risky, they carry too many diseases, I've heard others say that they are full of worms......I know people eat them, but not me.
Can You Eat Feral Hog Meat? Texas Experts Weigh In | iHeart

 

[JB in SC]

Have plenty of feral hogs here, they use traps, and rifles with night vision scopes to kill them. Pork is susceptible to a lot of diseases, even commercially raised can be a problem in cramped feed lots. Cook it thoroughly. It ain’t USDA inspected

 

[Paladin1950]

That's a hell of a lot of bacon!

 

[MrPants]

You could always build a wall! Just so happens, I know a guy
Wouldn't even have to be very high as pigs can't climb of jump as far as I know.

 

[Fyrefox]

Is this what goes into so-called Canadian bacon, and is this where McDonald’s gets their supply from for all those Egg McMuffins?

Super pigs? - -Something else to blame Canada for!

 

[Beezer]

Q: How do you corral a group of Super Pigs?

A: Put up a Bingo sign.

 

[Naturally]

What do you call a pig with three eyes ?? ... Piiig