"Squeal On Pigs" Campaign

Wild pigs have long been a problem across the southern part of the United States. Now, the Pacific Northwest is facing this invasive species threat. The Washington, Oregon, and Idaho Invasive Species Councils are therefore launching a “Squeal On Pigs” campaign to raise awareness about feral swine and the threat they pose. Wendy Brown, Washington Invasive Species Council Coordinator talks about the damage feral pigs can inflict on agricultural crops, rangelands, and fish and wildlife habitat.

BROWN: It’s fascinating and it’s frightening at the same time. One of the major problems is that there are enormous economic problems associated with these pigs. They damage farms. They damage property. They also carry disease that can then infest domesticated pig populations. Our state veterinarian is very concerned about wild pigs from this disease perspective. Our natural resource agencies are concerned about these pigs from the natural impacts, and our Department of Agriculture, of course, is very concerned about the agricultural impacts.

There’s the old saying “when pigs fly”, but that’s not quite how feral pigs get around.

BROWN: It’s odd that they’re in one fairly localized place in Idaho. So my guess is that they were physically transported there. I know that in other parts of the country they are moved around by people for hunting purposes, to establish new hunting populations.

The invasive species councils are asking people to report sightings of feral swine using the toll free SWINE LINE. That number is 888-268-9219.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.