By Karen Alexander
Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are one of the most invasive terrestrial mammals worldwide. They are native to Eurasia and parts of North Africa. Spread of wild pigs has been primarily through human introduction; they are also expanding through natural dispersal.
Wild pigs have a broad geographic range and can easily adapt and survive in new environments due to their high fecundity (large number of offspring produced), early sexual maturity, varied diet, long lifespans, and highly adaptive nature. They are one of the most damaging invasive species in the United States and are becoming an alarming concern for Canadian provinces, especially in the Prairies.
Wild pigs were first introduced to Canada from Europe beginning in the 1980’s as exotic livestock for meat. Due to human introductions, wild pigs have been expanding globally with populations present on all continents except Antarctica. In Canada, wild pigs have spread throughout the country since the late 1980’s.
The presence of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) is an emerging issue for Ontario as wild pigs have already caused widespread problems in Canada’s prairie provinces and many American states. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Invading Species Awareness Program has launched a Wild Pig Surveillance Program (WPSP), an innovative citizen science tool that enables volunteers to deploy, bait, and monitor trail cameras with the goal of increasing the level of wild pig surveillance in Ontario.
This new tool equips volunteers with the knowledge, equipment, and protocols required to detect wild pigs to better understand their current distribution in Ontario and inform potential management strategies.
In 2021, the WPSP was implemented in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 49 and 50, as well as a small pilot project in Lanark County. In March, OFAH worked to recruit volunteers for the WPSP through a digital call to action on social media and an e-blast to OFAH members. Interested volunteers completed a survey and watched a pre-recorded training webinar to enroll in the program. Based on the survey responses, OFAH-owned trail cameras were provided to volunteers in the designated surveillance areas for a fixed period from March – August 2021.
The early detection of any free-ranging pigs is vital to preventing the establishment of this invasive species.They are a threat to Ontario’s landscapes, negatively impacting the environment and affecting recreational, ecological, and economic values.
If you think you’ve see a wild pig, take a photograph, mark your location, and contact the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 or . The Invasive Species Awareness Program is a partnership between the OFAH and the NDMNRF to address the increasing threats posed by invasive species in Ontario.
Learn more about wild pigs here: Wild Pigs – Invasive Species Centre
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