Feral hogs headed for US from Canada; wildlife officials warn of widespread damage

By Nicole Darrah

Published September 12, 2019

Feral pigs bound for US from Canada pose potential for 'widespread damage'

An underreported threat along America's northern border has U.S. officials and local residents warning of widespread damage due to the reckless invaders: Feral hogs from Canada.

At least eight pigs have been spotted in Canada, just above the border with Lincoln County, Montana, according to officials.

HAVE A FERAL HOG PROBLEM? THERE'S A DRONE FOR THAT

Wildlife Services, the Montana Invasive Species Council, the National Feral Swine Program and the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks department say the pigs could cause significant damage.

Wildlife officials say at least eight feral hogs have been spotted in Canada along the U.S. border with Montana. (iStock)

“Multiple people say that if we were to design an invasive species that would do the most widespread damage, feral swine aren’t too far off from being the perfect specimen,” Dale Nolte, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Feral Swine Program, told the Daily Inter Lake. “It would be a disaster.”

The pigs were described as "rototillers" — they root for food and wallow in farms, fields and forests, leaving terrain unrecognizable. Tahnee Szymanski, of the Montana Department of Livestock, told the publication the feral hogs "can decimate the rangeland by tearing up everything."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The pigs might also spread diseases impacting livestock and other animals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/us/feral-hogs-us-canada-wildlife-widespread-damage