Over the years, certain areas in Canada have seen an increase in wild pig populations. Wayne Lees from Squeal on Pigs Manitoba highlights the difficulty in tracking these animals, especially on foot. "In our experience, finding the pigs is the single hardest thing that we have to do. Our situation in Canada is very, very much different than the US under cold climate conditions. We don't have the large numbers of wild pigs that they experience in warmer climates. And so finding these pigs, it will take a variety of different techniques to be able to put together a picture of where these wild pigs are."
To address this challenge, researchers are now using drones equipped with thermal cameras to track the animals. An aerial survey conducted in January in East Central Saskatchewan revealed some interesting results. SCIC enlisted Dr. Doug Schindler's company from Manitoba to conduct a Wild Boar Aerial Survey. They created eight blocks around the Tisdale area where rooting activity was apparent. "And again it verifies that block A was definitely an area of the most concern, and that coincided a great deal with the trapping activity that was being done in the eradication program."
The survey identified a total of 107 wild pigs in block A, with an average group size of about five. Block B had approximately 32 animals, while 19 were reported in Block C. Dr. Schindler has been involved in wild pig management in Manitoba since 1997.
Tracking wild pig populations in the prairies remains a challenging task. Dr. Doug Schindler, president and senior scientist with Joro Consultants, emphasizes the importance of winter aerial surveys in identifying areas of concern. "We've had cases from my experience with not only boar but with other species. If several people see the same animal over and over again, one animal can turn into many, many animals very, very quickly. So we have to be cognizant of that. So again, I think conducting frequent aerial surveys in areas of high concern to document the eradication of wild pigs."
As scientists continue to track wild pig populations, they are turning to advanced aerial operations, such as drones with thermal cameras, to aid in the process. Wild pigs pose a serious threat to domestic pig populations and are considered highly destructive to crops and natural habitats.