this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2023
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An exploding population of hard-to-eradicate "super pigs" in Canada is threatening to spill south of the border, and northern states like Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana are taking steps to stop the invasion.

In Canada, the wild pigs roaming Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba pose a new threat. They are often crossbreeds that combine the survival skills of wild Eurasian boars with the size and high fertility of domestic swine to create a "super pig" that's spreading out of control.

Ryan Brook, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan and one of Canada's leading authorities on the problem, calls feral swine, "the most invasive animal on the planet" and "an ecological train wreck."

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[–] teft@startrek.website 131 points 1 year ago (4 children)

The most invasive animal on the planet.

I think humans win that trophy.

[–] Pretzilla@lemmy.world 35 points 1 year ago (1 children)

To be fair, we are behind the whole invasive species thing

[–] grue@lemmy.world 24 points 1 year ago (1 children)

"Who is more invasive? The invasive species or the invasive species who imported it?" -- Obi Wan Swinobi

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[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yeah, way into the planetary infestation phase too, and already triggered the 6th mass extinction event.

[–] Diplomjodler@feddit.de 7 points 1 year ago

Yeah those guys are distant second at best.

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[–] Candelestine@lemmy.world 43 points 1 year ago (1 children)

At least they sound like a viable game animal. Invasive species to you, 100lbs of free pork for Billy out in the woods. We use it to control deer populations from exploding in certain areas where we've removed the top predator though, and we just kinda take its place. Can potentially help with any animal that has the misfortune of being both tasty and economical to go out and hunt for.

Won't eradicate them or anything, but will help keep them in check. It's a facet of that old alliance between hunters/fishermen and environmental activists.

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 51 points 1 year ago (8 children)

Unfortunately they'll still see population growth....

That means 65% or more of a wild pig population could be killed every year and it will still increase, Brook said. Hunting just makes the problem worse, he said. The success rate for hunters is only about 2% to 3% and several states have banned hunting because it makes the pigs more wary and nocturnal — tougher to track down and eradicate.

[–] Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net 23 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They are clever animals. You have to play the long con if you want to deal with their populations. Ive seen things where they actually feed them and gradually pen them in and the liquidate the whole drove.

[–] Jaysyn@kbin.social 14 points 1 year ago

My family in GA does a lot of this. They are farmers & have been successful in keeping feral hogs out of their fields. Hunting & trapping absolutely does work, you just have to know what the hell you're doing.

[–] Candelestine@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

I shoulda opened the article instead of just reading the synopsis. That is concerning.

I'll point out though, that since it's a new prey animal to the area, it will take time for the locals to learn how to hunt it effectively. It's behavior needs to be learned first, so effective approaches can be devised.

But ... delicious, economical and challenging is also something a hunter might find interesting.

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[–] mctoasterson@reddthat.com 34 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Just declare open season and no bag limit on pigs in all northern states. I guarantee you all the Bubbas and outdoorsmen will take care of it.

[–] Cianalas@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago (2 children)

They're not able to keep up with the breeding in Texas, and there's even helicopter tours where you can try and wipe out whole herds at a time.

I have seen this in Louisiana, too. They will use helicopters(I even saw one mounted with a light machine gun) and gun down hundreds at a time. It still isn't enough, and they have a lot of Bubbas down there hunting them in one way or another.

[–] Cranakis@lemmy.one 8 points 1 year ago

To your point, I ran across this video of an eradication attempt. Insane numbers being killed but they keep coming.

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 19 points 1 year ago (16 children)

In many states it is, not just northern. Iirc Texas will pay you to take an AR into a field and take out as many as you can. People even organize hunts from helicopters hunting herds like they should have Fortunate Son playing (no full auto though just ARs and typically BYOAR and ammo iirc.)

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 7 points 1 year ago (5 children)

These are super pigs, we'll need an upgrade.

AR-15-2 when?

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[–] ItsMeSpez@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year ago (2 children)

This is already the case in Saskatchewan and it hasn't managed to curb the population.

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[–] 0Xero0@lemmy.world 32 points 1 year ago (1 children)

"Super pigs" — called the "most invasive animal on the planet"

Human: Look what they need to mimic a fraction of our power

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[–] novibe@lemmy.ml 27 points 1 year ago (5 children)
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[–] Professorozone@lemmy.world 26 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Do they not taste good or something?

[–] Ticklemytip@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I've seen a little video on them. Apparently their meat is not good for consumption and tastes horrible due to their diet. But I've never tried super pig before, so right now it's only speculation.

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[–] firewyre@lemmy.world 25 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I love problems we can eat our way out of... if we almost wiped out the buffalo these little shits shouldn't be an issue.

[–] joostjakob@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Buffalo weren't eaten to almost extinction. And they don't give birth to 10 calves at a time.

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[–] ramius345@sh.itjust.works 23 points 1 year ago

Pork for the pork God.

[–] Primarily0617@kbin.social 23 points 1 year ago (2 children)

and we all made fun of that 30-50 feral hogs guy

truly we were the fools all along

[–] FireTower@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Feral hogs have been a problem for a while. They do tons of damage to southern agriculture each year. USDA estimates 1.5 billion dollars worth annually. https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/impacts/southern-region-land-grant-researchers-finding-feral-hog-solutions

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[–] Furball@sh.itjust.works 22 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Super-pigs threatening to invade America?

I knew all that military spending would come in handy

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[–] ByteJunk@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago (7 children)

Can't this be solved in a way where we get tons of super bacon?

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[–] fhek@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Build a wall! The pigs are going to pay for it!

[–] ours@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

The bacon tax.

[–] beebarfbadger@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year ago

"most invasive animal on the planet"

Oh, just wait until you find out about humans...

[–] MNByChoice@midwest.social 16 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Can wild wolves keep them in check? Coyotes seem too small to kill an adult wild pig. (I have no idea.)

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 11 points 1 year ago

Imagine thinking about a working natural ecosystem (co)existing in the same era as humans, preposterous.

:'(

[–] FireTower@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'd imagine wolves wouldn't be able to. Predators don't survive by picking hard fights.

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[–] modifier@lemmy.ca 15 points 1 year ago

I know this is bad, but I also know I'm not the only one whose first thought was, "super bacon".

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Oh, ok, so like literally, not a title about overseas mutated police force ...

A close one with all them nuclear reactors being hacked to produce, em, hybrids.

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[–] afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Free pork should never be an issue.

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[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

I'd say we could use Spider-Pig to stop the Super Pigs, but you're not supposed to mix Marvel and D.C.

EDIT: Guess you guys aren't Simpsons fans.

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[–] ICastFist@programming.dev 12 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Stupid solution suggestion: set up plenty of bait traps that'll cage them. Barbecue ensues.

[–] Texas_Hangover@lemm.ee 17 points 1 year ago (4 children)

In Texas we can shoot 'em from helicopters with fully automatic weapons. (Seriously) 🤠

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Do you play Panama by Van Halen while you do it? Cause I’m imagining that right now.

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[–] Additional_Prune@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

If we can wipe out the passenger pigeon, we can surely wipe out some nice tasty pork.

[–] spudwart@spudwart.com 11 points 1 year ago

FREE BACON!

[–] interceder270@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago
[–] Jake_Farm@sopuli.xyz 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Where are all those hunters that hunted everything else to extinction when you need them?

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[–] MNByChoice@midwest.social 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Seems our boarder security it lacking if something as large as a pig can just walk through.

[–] CubbyTustard@reddthat.com 12 points 1 year ago (6 children)

it's the longest border between two countries in the entire world.

it's over 5,000 miles long, mostly dense forest.

I think your expectations here are a little out of bounds!

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[–] mifan@feddit.dk 7 points 1 year ago

Time for an “Eat Pig” campaign!

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