Feral swine face a new threat in the Pacific Northwest – the wrath of the Oregon, Washington and Idaho Invasive Species Councils – who have launched a “Squeal on Pigs” campaign.
The campaign is intended to raise awareness about feral swine and the threat they pose to Pacific Northwest waterways and natural resources. The regional effort is intended to stop the expansion of feral swine populations, inform private landowners of the need to report feral swine, provide a convenient and easy way for people to report sightings of feral swine, establish baseline population estimates and distribution, and connect landowners with agencies that can provide technical assistance in feral swine management.
The invasive species councils define feral swine as any pig that is not confined within a fenced property. Feral swine have invaded the Pacific Northwest, causing damage to agricultural crops, rangelands and fish and wildlife habitat. Their destructive rooting and grubbing activities increase erosion and degrade water quality in streams; encourage the growth of noxious weeds; and cause millions of dollars in agricultural, environmental and property damage.
Feral swine also prey on lambs, calves, fawns, upland birds and other types of terrestrial wildlife. Feral swine can transmit diseases such as brucellosis, pseudorabies, toxoplasma, leptospirosis, E. coli and influenza to wildlife, livestock and humans.
To help people report sightings of feral swine, the Oregon, Washington and Idaho Invasive Species Councils are providing a toll-free number to report sightings of suspected feral swine. Call (888) 268-9219. For more information, click here.