Hunting not effective in dealing with wild pig populations

The population of wild pigs in Saskatchewan is spreading like wildfire and, with no hunting regulations in place, it seems like a match made in heaven for hunters.

But that may not be the case according to Darrell Crabbe, the executive director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation.

“We would prefer it not be referred to as a hunt because we are trying to eliminate that population, so we don’t want it to be classified as a huntable species,” he said.

“We aren’t saying we aren’t encouraging people if they see them to take advantage of that opportunity. We’re just saying when you start developing it as a hunt and start controlling it that way, then they become a managed species and we don’t want to see that because our management goals of the province are to eliminate them.”

He said these pigs are spreading so quickly because of their young sexual maturity, large litter sizes, the ability to give birth multiple times a year, and their elusiveness when faced with danger.

“We don’t discourage people if they have an opportunity to shoot one. But one of the things that does happen with wild boars is the minute you put any pressure on them, the whole herd will immediately go nocturnal,” said Crabbe.

“The most effective measure that has been promoted by people that are dealing with this in the United States is these teams that go in and are able to eliminate a whole group at one time. So that is where we hope there will be some investment in, is the development of these teams that go out and find the hotspots and go in and eliminate that population.”

He said if there is investment into these groups, the wildlife federation will do whatever it can to aid in the eradication efforts.