Ottawa [Canada], June 2: On June 2 , Insider quoted experts warning that Canadian "super pigs" could soon invade many US states and cause great damage, with four states particularly at high risk.
Known as the "super pig," the breed is a cross between a domestic pig and a Eurasian wild boar breed , brought to Canada in the 1980s to provide a novel type of meat. Farmers gradually crossbred pigs that were larger and could endure the cold Canadian winters.
When the market crashed in 2001, many of these wild boar hybrids were released, causing them to flourish and are now abundant in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as appearing in most other provinces.
"They are the worst invasive large mammal on the planet," said Ryan Brook, a wildlife expert and professor at the University of Saskatchewan (Canada). He has studied these hybrid wild boars for more than a decade.
A study recently published in the journal Biological Invasions shows that the northeastern US states of Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota and western Minnesota are areas vulnerable to invasion by Canadian "super pigs".
Researchers used data from GPS collars on hybrid wild boars to track their movement patterns and determine their invasiveness. They found that pigs mainly live in forests, fields and wetlands.
Super destructive
Research says their behavior shows that the northern region of the United States has a high possibility of being invaded by super pigs.
"Our research highlights the need for monitoring and science-based response strategies for the potential southward spread of this invasive species , to prevent or minimize tree damage. " planting, risks to native species and disease transmission to humans, livestock, livestock and wildlife," according to the authors.
Mr. Brook calls "super pigs" a species that destroys the environment because they can weigh more than 300 kg and eat almost anything, from frogs and salamanders, to eggs of ground-nesting birds such as ducks and geese. even white-tailed deer.
They damage agricultural crops, especially corn, by eating or loosening soil to reach plant roots and insect larvae. They also carry pathogens that can infect animals and humans.
If Canada's "super pigs" can establish populations in the northern United States, farmers in colder regions of the country such as the Dakotas, Montana and Minnesota could soon be "terrorized" by feral pigs.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper