The Western Producer has been writing a lot about invasive species recently. Actually, we’ve been writing about them for a lot longer than that because the majority of our most challenging weeds came from somewhere else, making them the original invasive species. However, other nasty critters that don’t belong here have been making the news […] Read more
Tag Archives invasive species
Research attempts to nail down wild pig threat
Project hopes to increases awareness of disease potential, distribution in Alberta and interaction with livestock farms
A research project costing nearly $1 million will try to pinpoint how much of a threat the increasing spread of invasive wild pigs in Alberta poses to the province’s producers. Wild pigs can carry numerous diseases that could affect livestock such as cattle as well as infect humans, said Mathieu Pruvot, an assistant professor at […] Read more
National body develops strategy to control wild pigs
Animal Health Canada is consulting on a draft strategy to control invasive wild pigs given the numerous threats the animals pose. “Wild pigs are a clear example of a One Health issue, affecting animal, human and environmental health,” said the organization in a news release. “Wild pigs cause significant damage to natural ecosystems and agricultural […] Read more
Fighting invasive mussels comes with giant price tag
The mussels cost treatment plants, miners, aquaculture farms and industrial users in Montana US$300 per million gallons of water used
Borders might affect how people conduct business in different regions but for invasive species, there are no boundaries in where, when or how they choose to disturb a natural eco-system. Top of the list in Montana is the devastating effect Quagga and Zebra mussels (collectively known as dreissenid mussels) could have for the agriculture industry […] Read more
Alberta funding designed to get data on wild pigs
Wild boar are trouble for producers in Alberta. They were brought to Alberta in the 1980s as part of farm diversification efforts and many escaped from captivity. Today, wild boar cause a lot of crop damage. In north-central Alberta, wild populations are well-established. “We actually sought these guys out and brought them to Canada,” said […] Read more
Saskatchewan takes aim at wild pigs
CORRECTION – 0845 CST March 28, 2022 – The original version of this story contained an estimate of the number of wild pigs in Sask. That estimate cannot be confirmed and has been removed. Regulations under development in Saskatchewan will place wild pigs under the provincial Pest Control Act and allow people to use poison […] Read more
National parks eye invasive species
The federal government announced $14.7 million late last year to prevent and manage aquatic invasive species in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Waterton Lakes, and Yoho national parks. The money is designed to help increase surveillance and to combat the spread of invasive species. Currently, only one lake in the national parks has an invasive species. In […] Read more
Alberta continues to inspect boats for mussels
Province remains committed to keeping zebra and quagga mussels out of its waterways, where they can cause damage
Travel restrictions now in place due to the pandemic are likely to significantly reduce interprovincial and international traffic into Alberta but boat inspection stations are still expected to be active this summer at some border crossings. The threat that zebra and quagga mussels could inadvertently be brought to provincial water bodies on watercraft remains because […] Read more
Chinese mystery snail makes itself at home in Alta. lake
Don’t let it loose. Alberta Environment and Parks asks people to heed that demand as it fights to keep invasive species from affecting the province’s natural ecosystems. The directive came too late for Lake McGregor, located in southern Alberta east of Vulcan. Now the Chinese mystery snail has staked out a claim along a portion […] Read more
Birds, anglers take on invasive Prussian carp in Alberta
It was bird buffet at Frank Lake east of High River, Alta., this spring. Gulls, mergansers and other waterfowl filled their bellies with Prussian carp. And since Prussian carp are an invasive species, the birds are doing their part to reduce the population of these fish, which are now found in southern Alberta and parts […] Read more
