Biologists and wildlife technicians in the St. Lawrence Lowlands have tracked the escape of at least three wild boars and a dozen pigs in the past year to avoid a similar ecological disaster in western Canada.
“Wild boars are one of the most harmful invasive species on the planet, which is why any observation must be reported as soon as possible,” notes Yannick Bilodo, a biologist who coordinates field operations at the Ministry of the Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks.
On July 5, a female wild boar was spotted with “one or two cubs” in a field in Saint-Perpetue, Centre-du-Quebec. On July 13, an adult wild boar was reported, this time near Highway 640 in Lanatier, Terrebonne. In all cases, wildlife officers were stationed at the site, but no further information was available to know more about their movements.
We also know that only one of the two wild boars seen in Yamachichi last year was killed in January 2024.
Photo courtesy of Ministry of Environment, Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks
Yannick Bilodeau, Operations Coordinator Biologist – Wild Boar and Escaped Deer in Lanateer and Laurentides Wildlife Management Department, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. He puts up a sign indicating that capture is in progress. Photo by MELCCFP
Specialists in repelling wild boars
For the operations coordinator – the problem of wild boars and escaped deer from the Ministry, wild boars that have escaped from illegal farms or private property is only one aspect of the general question of wild boars and free-breeding boars. Same genetics. “These are people who can hybridize. They are called “pigs” or “sanglicons”. Even Vietnamese pigs, a subspecies that are increasingly popular as pets, can cause a problem if they get into our forests. By the way, these animals have no problem in our winters.
Wild boars seen by a resident of Yamachichi on November 21, 2023.
Between 10 and 15 of these animals are currently operating in southern Quebec, and the ministry is taking the situation very seriously. “We don’t want these animals to adapt to our territory, as seen in western Canada and the United States. They cause $2.5 billion a year in damage to our neighbors to the south.
In Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba, more than 30,000 of these animals are now impossible to eradicate. They wreak havoc on crops, harm native species and act as pathogen reservoirs for human diseases.
Ontario is crumbling
Wild boars escaping from farms in Quebec is not a new phenomenon. In 2016 alone, an intervention managed to capture 10 escaped animals in Centre-du-Quebec. Four months of hunting is necessary before eradicating them. “You certainly shouldn’t shoot a wild boar, because the shot scares people who scatter around it, and thus cannot control the situation.”
As of January 2024, Ontario has banned the breeding of wild boars on its territory.
Photo by FRÉDERICK LELIÈVRE
The wild boar is considered an invasive alien species by the state of Quebec.
Quebec currently recognizes 63 farms with 1 to 200 animals.
The ministry calls on citizens to report sightings of wild boar or boar. Note the time and place of the sighting, and if possible take a photograph.
SOS Hunting: 1 800 463-2191
Wild Boar, Sanglicon, Vietnamese Pig…
Sanglichon (also known as “Sanglochon”) results from a cross between a wild boar and a domestic pig.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Adult Sanglichan. It is a cross between a domestic pig and a wild boar. Also called “Sanglichon” or “Cogonglier”. Source Wikipedia
The Vietnamese pig is a variety of pigs native to Vietnam and sold as pets. They are wrongly called “dwarf pigs” because they can reach a weight of more than 80 kg.
Wikipedia
Adult Vietnamese pig. Pigs of this breed are sold as pets. Sour: Wikipedia
They are all the same breed, the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus), thus producing fertile offspring.
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