Image

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.