Farmers, ranchers and outdoor
enthusiasts are keeping a watchful eye as news of wild boars in
Saskatchewan starts to spread. The rumours, coffee shop and camp fire
stories of the boars started several years ago but are now being
confirmed by several organizations. SARM has asked the provincial
government to help with the problem. The animals are eating crops,
pestering cattle and have even been known to attack humans from time
to time.
Boars are curious animals and very
cunning. Part of the problem of controlling the population is the
fact they reproduce rapidly and once full grown they can have two
litters of up to 12 piglets a year. Add to that the number of boars
that escape from ranches and game farm every year and they population
can quickly get out of control if nothing is done according to
Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Darrell
Crabbe.
"They are a very difficult animal
to contain and I think the percentage that I read from Manitoba was
some where between three and five percent from an operation will go
AWOL every year." Crabbe says the Moose Mountain area is
one that has been overrun with the animal and there has been a
sighting at Buffalo Pound north of Moose Jaw.