Evaluating potential sources of invasive wild pigs in Ontario

Abstract

Once an invasive species has been introduced and becomes established in a region, eradicating that species becomes increasingly expensive and, depending on the species, may be financially and logistically unfeasible (Parkes & Panetta, 2009;Vitousek et al., 1996). Successful control strategies for invasive species involve a combination of preventing the introduction of the invader, detecting early invaders, and rapidly removing those early invaders (Mehta et al., 2007). Preventing the introduction and subsequent establishment of an invasive species, while challenging (Mehta et al., 2007), is the most efficient method to prevent widespread invasion (Leung et al., 2002;Reaser et al., 2020).Identifying the potential pathways of invasion is thus a critical step for preventing new or continued invasions.Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) have successfully invaded every nonpolar continent worldwide (Barrios-Garcia & Ballari, 2012;

A free classified advertising website is a high-risk unregulated source of domestic wild boar, pot-bellied pigs, and their hybrids with domestic swine in Canada: Implications for African Swine Fever Risk Preparedness

“…In Canada, numerous types of domestic swine are held for meat production, high-fence shoot operations where people pay to harvest a wild pig inside a fenced compound, and as pets. Escaped or intentionally released domestic swine, including wild boar and their hybrids, have been the primary and likely only source of free-ranging wild pigs in Canada (Brook and van Beest, 2014; Koen et al, 2021). These invasive pigs are associated with considerable negative ecological and socio-economic impacts.…”

Probabilistic genetic identification of wild boar hybridization to support control of invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa)

“…By exploiting wild boar ancestry as a common characteristic—but not necessarily a defining attribute—of genetically heterogeneous invasive wild pigs in the United States (and likely Canada; Koen et al, 2021), the delta likelihood approach was useful across large parts of the United States. However, this approach was inadequate for differentiating wild pigs in specific regions (i.e., populations in Florida and southern Georgia that are not characterized by a history of wild boar hybridization; Figure 5; Smyser et al, 2020).…”

Unregulated Online Sales are High-Risk Sources of Domestic Swine (Sus scrofa) in Canada: Implications for Invasive Wild Pig and African Swine Fever Risk Preparedness

“…2). Because escaped and released swine, including wild boar and their hybrids, are probably the original source of free-ranging wild pigs in Canada, tracing their movements to their final destination is essential (Brook and van Beest 2014; Koen et al 2021).…”