ABSTRACT

The wild pig invasion in North America has become increasingly dynamic, facilitating interactions across nearly all levels of organization. In some areas, such as Manitoba, wild pigs are considered private property and fall under traditional labels for livestock breeds under the Animal Liability Act. This restricts citizens from harvesting the species unless they are harassing or injuring livestock. In addition to adaptability and persistence of wild pigs, challenges to limiting their spread largely relates to increasing recreational values. Vast range expansion over the previous 15-20 years has been facilitated through introductions of wild pigs by humans from small, localized populations on a continental and perhaps irreparable scale. Movement of wild pigs through human-mediated activities, such as transportation, has been occurring for well over a hundred years. In fact, societies throughout the world have been transporting and introducing pigs to new ranges for thousands of years.