Latest news with #AlbertaInvasiveSpeciesCouncil
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
New campaign encourages B.C. to 'squeal' on invasive pigs
Escaped domestic pigs are no joke. That's the message behind a new awareness campaign from the Invasive Species Council of B.C. aimed at preventing feral pig populations from growing and thriving in British Columbia, as they have elsewhere in North America. The campaign encourages British Columbians to "squeal on pigs" they believe have escaped into the wild, and offers farmers tips on how to prevent their animals from getting loose. "It's one of the species that we want to be very, very careful with," said Stanley Troyer, who grew up on a ranch and now owns a custom meat-cutting shop in Fort St. John in northeast B.C., one of the regions of the province where feral pigs are most likely to thrive. He said he once helped a friend track down a loose hog that travelled more than 50 kilometres in the middle of winter — a reminder of the animal's ability to survive in northern climates. "It's important that we don't underestimate the ability of hogs," he said. LISTEN | The threat of feral pigs: Gail Wallin, executive director of the Invasive Species Council of B.C., said escaped domesticated pigs can cause environmental damage and spread disease. "They're rooters. They'll destroy your crops or your wetlands or whatever lands are really important for other native species," she said. The campaign features pigs in places they shouldn't be — grocery stores, tractors, and kitchen cupboards — and asks people to act if they see any in real life. Wallin said the council has spent the last year working on resources for local governments and pork producers, as well as things like kids' activity books, to support the campaign. She said anyone who spots a pig can report it online through the council's website, by using an invasive species app or by calling in with information. She said having a photo of the animal is particularly important. "If it's a pig outside a fence, it's illegal in British Columbia. So, that goes to the province, and the province works out a response," she said. An alert posted by the provincial government said feral pigs have been reported in low numbers in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Thompson-Okanagan, Peace, Chilcotin and Kootenay regions. It said many were released or escaped from farms but they "have not yet established large populations in the province." Wallin said her organization has seen the damage invasive pigs can cause in other provinces, as well as in the United States, and it's a growing concern. "We don't want that here in British Columbia," she said. "We want to catch them when they're still in their early stages, and prevent new ones from coming in." Wild boars that aren't being raised as livestock are considered an invasive species in Alberta and are a provincially regulated "agricultural pest." The government of Alberta has said the pigs can compete with wildlife and destroy other sensitive natural habitats. The Alberta Invasive Species Council said that while there are no Canadian estimates, agricultural damage in the U.S. caused by wild boar at large is estimated to be $1.5 billion each year.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
New campaign encourages B.C. to ‘squeal' on invasive pigs
WILLIAMS LAKE – British Columbia's Invasive Species Council says the province needs to get ahead of the potential risk of invasive pigs before they gain a foothold the way they have elsewhere in Canada. The council says the animals cause extensive damage to ecosystems, farmland, and infrastructure and can spread diseases. A new awareness campaign is encouraging British Columbians 'squeal' on pigs by reporting any feral pigs they spot. The campaign features pigs in places they shouldn't be — grocery stores, tractors, and kitchen cupboards — and asks people to act if they see any in real life. An alert posted by the provincial government says feral pigs have been reported in low numbers in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Thompson-Okanagan, Peace, Chilcotin and Kootenay Regions. It says many were released or escaped from farms but they 'have not yet established large populations in the province.' Gail Wallin, executive director of the Invasive Species Council of B.C., says the organization has seen the damage invasive pigs can cause in other provinces. 'That's why we've launched this campaign — to raise awareness and remind people that their observations matter. Whether you're on the land every day or out for a weekend hike, early reporting of pigs on the land makes all the difference,' she says. Wild boars not being raised as livestock are considered an invasive species in Alberta and are a provincially regulated 'agricultural pest.' The government of Alberta says the pigs can compete with wildlife and destroy other sensitive natural habitats. The Alberta Invasive Species Council says while there are no Canadian estimates, agricultural damage in the United States caused by wild boar at large is estimated to be $1.5 billion each year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2025
CTV News
3 days ago
- Science
- CTV News
More than an eyesore: Why it pays to act early when it comes to weeds
Volunteers spent part of their weekend learning about invasive species of plants and how to manage them. Volunteers spent part of their weekend learning about invasive species of plants and how to manage them. Invasive plants are costing Alberta billions of dollars each year, and experts are hoping awareness can help get more people hands-on in the fight against weeds. According to the Alberta Invasive Species Council, plants make up the largest group of invasive species in the province by both abundance and diversity. 'It's interesting, because even though we have the most of them, they are probably the least kind talked about,' said Megan Evans, executive director of the non-profit society. Invasive plants have competitive advantages that, combined with a lack of natural predators, help them push out native species and change local landscapes – costing the Alberta economy about $2 billion each year. 'They change the way the ecosystem functions, they degrade natural habitats, and in agricultural lands, they reduce crop yields,' Evans said. 'There's also some invasive plants, like the invasive annual grasses …that can alter fire regimes,' she added. 'Where those invasive annual grasses have established and really become problematic, they see that wildfires come through more frequently.' There are 75 regulated invasive plant species in Alberta that landowners are legally required to remove or control. Spotted knapweed A large field of spotted knapweed can be seen in a photo posted to the Alberta Invasive Species Council website. (Photo: Alberta Invasive Species Council) Among some of the most prolific offenders, Evans said, are the Russian Olive (an ornamental tree currently overrunning river valleys in southeastern Alberta), spotted knapweed (a reproductive juggernaut that produces a toxin killing surrounding plants) and the pretty purple creeping bellflower (a herbicide-resistant ornamental with far-reaching roots undeterred even by concrete). Until 2010, the ubiquitous self-cloning dandelion was also on that list. Evans said its removal may lead some people to think it isn't a problematic plant, but that's far from the truth. 'It's quite to the contrary,' she said. 'They're kind of so far gone that we've lost the battle with dandelions, so they are incredibly invasive.' Dandelions Dandelions and long grass in Edmonton. (Darcy Seaton/CTV News Edmonton) In 2015, the City of Edmonton stopped using herbicide on dandelions on public property. The city said because the plants are no longer prohibited, mowing is a better management option. 'The city embraces our natural environment, and dandelions are a part of our ecosystem and are an early food source for wildlife and pollinators in the spring,' Fiona Spitzig, an invasive weed specialist, said. Evans disagrees. 'Not all pollinators can forage on dandelions. That's an important distinction,' she said. 'Lots of different plant species produce flowers that bloom all season long. For our pollinators, (when) the dandelions get in there, they could potentially out compete those native species.' What to do about weeds Because battling invasive plants doesn't always work (such as in the case of the determined dandelion), Evans said prevention and early detection are key. Evans said anything unexpectedly popping up in the garden should be identified and dug up immediately to prevent an infestation. The Alberta Invasive Species Council has a guide that can help. Other preventative measures include cleaning footwear before and after travelling, and staying vigilant when shopping, as invasive plants occasionally end up on greenhouse shelves or in wildflower mixes. 'Plant swaps are another place where we relatively commonly see some of these invasive plant species,' Evans added. 'If somebody shows up to a plant swap and they tell you they have so much of this plant and it just does so well … that might be a red flag.' Creeping bellflower The invasive hard-to-kill creeping bellflower can be seen in a picture posted to the Alberta Invasive Species Council website. (Photo: Nicole Kimmel) Evans recommends planting native species, which are lower maintenance and easier to control in the long run, not to mention being a great benefit to local pollinators such as Alberta's whopping 371 native bee species. 'You start planting these native plants and you see these native bees come, and you all of a sudden have this ecosystem in your yard,' she said. 'It's so exciting.' 'And,' she added, 'you don't have to worry about them becoming invasive and taking over and having another creeping bellflower disaster like we all have on our hands.' But what do you do when the weeds aren't coming from your own yard? While complaining about dandelions won't get you far, all other 75 prohibited weeds can be reported to the City of Edmonton by calling 311. Those calls, the city said, are investigated by staff who can then enforce bylaws and the Alberta Weed Control Act. If property owners don't comply, city crews clean up the weeds and tack the cost onto the owner's property tax bill. Last year, the city said it received 3,586 calls about weeds on private property and carried out 900 weed remediation jobs on private land. The City of Edmonton also has a program inviting residents out each weekend to pull weeds and learn to spot the plants causing problems in the city. 'Our volunteer weed pull events give people a hands-on chance to come and learn about invasive plants, actively manage them, and it's also a great opportunity to steward the landscape (and) the parks that we all share in Edmonton,' said city weed specialist Fiona Spitzag. Japanese knotweed The invasive concrete-busting Japanese knotweed can be seen in a photo posted to the Alberta Invasive Species Council website. On Saturday, volunteers learned about the fast-growing, infrastructure-busting Japanese Knotweed, which Spitzag said is near the top of the list of invasive species. 'It's a plant that is present in Edmonton in relatively small numbers, but it grows really quickly,' she said. 'Its roots can grow through tiny cracks in concrete, and as a result, it can damage infrastructure, the foundations of homes, things like that.' The City of Edmonton will hold weed pull events at different locations every Saturday until the fall, with each session focused on different problem plants. You can find more information or register for a weed pull on the City of Edmonton website.
Hamilton Spectator
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Feral rabbits more than a nuisance in Grande Prairie
Residents of Swanavon brought concerns about the feral rabbit population in their neighbourhood to city council on June 2. They are frustrated with the destruction that the rabbits have unleashed upon the neighbourhood. 'The rabbits are consuming plants, flowers, destroying lawns, gnawing on trees, creating holes in the ground, which poses a hazard and is dangerous especially for us seniors, because a lot of these holes are ankle breakers, it has also created a financial burden on residents for replacing plants and extensive lawn repairs,' a Swanavon resident told council. The name of the resident has been withheld as they have been the subject of harassment since the council delegation. About 30 residents who are frustrated with the rabbits in the area submitted a petition to city council. 'We are very frustrated and exhausted, and we would like to see the City of Grande Prairie put measures in place to control the rabbit population, which is out of control,' said the resident. City council directed administration to begin an education campaign immediately on the topic and also bring back options on 'how to deal with the feral rabbit issue.' One concern of the delegation is that some residents are feeding the feral rabbits. 'An educational campaign could start ASAP, reminding people this is actually against our bylaws,' said Mayor Jackie Clayton. 'Having feral rabbits and feeding them in their yard is not acceptable.' The city's bylaw says that wild animals cannot be fed; the website notes it can have significant impacts on local ecosystems and wildlife. The delegation noted that the problem of feral rabbits has existed in Swanavon for about five years. Residents have tried to deter rabbits from entering their yards with various methods, including water guns, slingshots, Bobbex and wolf urine. Still, the rabbit population continues to increase. 'Rapid reproduction is a significant factor in the population explosion of feral rabbits,' says an Alberta Invasive Species Council (AISC) report. The report states that rabbits can have three litters per year and can begin breeding as young as three months of age. A single litter typically consists of four to 12 kits. AISC also notes that the lifespan of rabbits is much shorter when living in the wild, at about 12-15 months, while in captivity rabbits live for about 10 years. The delegation noted that the rabbits are also attracting wildlife to the area, such as coyotes. Feral rabbits are not a new issue for municipalities in Alberta. The Town of Canmore spent nearly $50,000 annually trying to track down and euthanize feral rabbits, but that was not what ultimately led to the elimination of feral rabbits there. The population contracted rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) that led to their deaths. According to the federal government, death is common within one to five days of a rabbit contracting RHD. RHD can spread to native rabbit and hare species, said AISC. 'The best way to prevent further spread of feral rabbits is to spread awareness about the dangers of releasing pets into the wild,' according to AISC. An education campaign was conducted in Grande Prairie in 2023, focusing on not feeding feral rabbits. 'I didn't hear anything from anyone last year, so I thought that maybe the education campaign … had been working, to hear now that the issue is worse than it was, worst than it's ever been, that's a problem, and I really appreciate the immediate steps of an education campaign and then exploring what else is possible following that,' said Clayton. City chief public and protective services officer Dan Lemieux said he is not aware of any fines being issued for people feeding feral rabbits in the city. 'When we were notified of a particular resident that was suspected of feeding rabbits, we did knock on the door and have a conversation,' he said, noting it was more of an educational visit. 'The challenge for us in enforcement is it's very difficult to enforce because we don't have access to private properties.' The delegation stated that the problem is not limited to Swanavon and is spreading to other neighbourhoods. The group noted all residents should be aware of the issues feral rabbits can cause and the applicable bylaws. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
