Hybrid wild pigs a growing menace in Southwestern Ontario

Hybrid “super pigs” – massive, ravenous wild hogs that will “eat almost anything” – are a looming problem in Southwestern Ontario, experts say.

The result of cross-breeding between wild and domestic pigs, this invasive species has been spotted throughout the region – with confirmed sightings from Windsor to Brantford and up to Huron County.

This week, two photos of wild pigs were posted on social media after a Norfolk County sighting.

“This is an invasive species originally brought to North America (in the 1980s) for meat production,” said Ryan Brook, an associate professor at the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan.

The original boars were bred with domestic pigs to boost meat production but created a larger, stronger animal, with the heftiest topping the scales at almost 640 pounds. These wild pigs are now found throughout North America, with sightings in more than 40 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces.

By: MONTE SONNENBERG, SIMCOE REFORMER & ASHLEY TAYLOR, SIMCOE REFORMER

Read more here: lfpress.com/news/local-news/hybrid-wild-pigs-a-growing-menace-in-southwestern-ontario