Invasive pigs are no joke: B.C. campaign urges public to act

You don’t expect to find pigs in your kitchen. You shouldn’t find them roaming wild in B.C. either. Invasive pigs are no joke, and the province has a rare chance to act before they become a real problem.

That’s the idea behind a new awareness campaign from the Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC), launching across the province. Featuring pigs in places they shouldn’t be, grocery stores, tractors, and kitchen cupboards, the campaign uses humour to grab attention and drive home a serious message: invasive pigs are a real threat, and now is the time to act.

The campaign marks the B.C. launch of Squeal on Pigs, a broad effort to stop invasive pig populations from establishing a foothold in the province. These animals cause extensive damage to ecosystems, farmland, and infrastructure. To help prevent this, B.C. law requires all pigs to be securely fenced.

The damage isn’t the only concern. Invasive pigs also pose a serious risk if diseases like African swine fever ever reach Canada. Although African swine fever has not been detected in the country, invasive pigs could act as a reservoir, making future outbreaks difficult to contain. With support from the Government of Canada through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program, ISCBC is encouraging everyone in B.C. to report sightings and help prevent invasive pigs from establishing in the province.

“We’ve seen the damage invasive pigs can cause in other provinces, and we have a real opportunity in B.C. to prevent that from happening here,” says Gail Wallin, Executive Director of the Invasive Species Council of B.C. “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.”

“An outbreak of African swine fever in wild pigs would pose a serious threat to Canada’s pork sector,” says the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “To boost our prevention and preparedness efforts, we have funded 44 projects across the country, including the Squeal on Pigs campaign in British Columbia, so we can increase public awareness of African swine fever, prevent the growth of invasive wild pig populations in the province, and protect our agriculture sector, wildlife, and rural communities.”

You can help stop invasive pigs before they become a problem. Knowing what to look for and reporting what you see makes a real difference.

While invasive pigs are a concern across B.C., keep a special watch for sightings in the Peace, east Chilcotin, and west of Kamloops, due to recent potential reports.

Find out more about the impacts and signs of damage and how to report at bcinvasives.ca/SquealOnPigs.