Researchers warn that Canadian “super pigs” may soon invade the United States, potentially causing millions of dollars in damage, with four states being particularly at risk.
A study published this month in the journal “Biological Invasions” identified northeastern Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and western Minnesota as the regions in the U.S. most vulnerable to invasion by super pigs.
Using GPS collar data from wild boars, researchers tracked their movement patterns to determine the likelihood of their invasion into the United States. They found that these wild pigs predominantly inhabit forests, farmlands, and wetlands. The study suggests that the clear preferences of wild pigs and connectivity opportunities with habitats indicate that these northern regions in the U.S. are “extremely likely to become migration destinations for invasive wild pigs.”
The researchers wrote, “Our focus has been on monitoring the potential southward expansion of this invasive species and the necessity of developing science-based response strategies to prevent or reduce potential agricultural damage, risks to local species, and the spread of diseases to humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife.”
The study indicates that invasive wild pigs are among the most active invaders on Earth, causing billions of dollars in agricultural and environmental losses annually.
These super pigs are a hybrid species of domestic pigs and Eurasian wild boars, introduced to Canada in the 1980s as a new exotic meat product. Canadian farmers eventually hybridized these two pig species to produce larger-sized, more reproductively successful pigs capable of withstanding Canada’s cold winters.
After reaching its peak in 2001, the market collapsed, leading to some frustrated ranchers cutting fences and releasing domestic pigs. This resulted in a significant proliferation of these wild pigs. Today, they are commonly found in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and documented in most Canadian provinces.
“They are one of the most serious invasive large mammals on Earth,” said Ryan Brook, a wildlife researcher and professor at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, who has been studying wild pigs for over a decade, as reported by the “Business Insider” on June 1.
Brook is also one of the authors of this study. He stated that these super pigs are an “environmental disaster.” They can grow to over six hundred pounds, consume almost anything, prey on native species like frogs and salamanders, ground-nesting birds like ducks and geese, even deer. They feed on crops, especially corn, or uproot plants to consume roots and insect larvae. They also carry diseases that can infect animals and humans.
Wild pigs in the U.S. are distributed in California and throughout the southern region, mainly in Texas and Florida, where these species live in warmer climates. Currently, wild pigs in the U.S. include domestic pigs, wild boars, and hybrids of the two, not well-suited to colder climates. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s estimates, wild pigs already cause about $2.5 billion in losses to U.S. agriculture annually.
If Canadian super pigs establish populations in the northern U.S., farmers in colder regions such as North and South Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota may soon be threatened by wild pigs.
Both Canada and the U.S. are working to control the wild pig population.
“Eradicating pigs over most of America is not an option. Limiting damage to crops, ecosystems, and local species is the best course of action,” stated John Kilgo, a research scientist with the U.S. Forest Service studying wild pigs in South Carolina.
Hunting is a common wildlife management method in the U.S., and some suggest using this approach to address the issue. However, Brooks argues that the rapid breeding pace of super pigs makes hunting insufficient as a solution. Additionally, their adaptability and agility make them difficult to manage.