More than a dozen wild boars spotted roaming in Pickering, Ont. captured and euthanized
Over a dozen wild boars spotted roaming east of Toronto in early November have been captured and euthanized, government officials say.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry first launched an investigation into reports that 14 wild pigs were wandering around in Pickering, Ont. on Nov. 5.
Numerous people reported seeing the animals, including Pickering resident Mary Delaney who told CTV News Toronto that her husband spotted the boars in their yard.
"They surprised each other in an ‘E.T. meets Elliot in the cornfield’ moment,” she said.
Government officials expressed concern that the boars, which are an invasive species in Ontario, could have a significant impact on the province's natural environment and agricultural industry.
"They are considered one of the most damaging invasive species in the United States and have been called an ‘ecological train wreck’ due to trampling, wallowing, and rooting in sensitive habitats, and the significant damage they can cause to farmlands and stored crops," Morgan Kerekes, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Our goal is to reduce the disease risk these animals pose to Ontario’s domestic herd and the extensive damage they can do to agricultural crops."
Kerekes said that staff worked with local landowners to find out where the animals were frequenting and then set up bait and trail cameras in the area. Eleven wild boars were captured on Nov. 30 and the final three were found on Dec. 6.
"With respect to the wild pigs in the Pickering area, they were humanely euthanized and will be sent for necropsy and research," Kerekes said. "Through this research, we will learn about the condition of wild pigs in Ontario, potential diseases and pathogens and outcomes will inform future management."
Anyone who comes across a wild boar is encouraged to report the sighting to wildpigs@ontario.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Israel says it reopened a key Gaza crossing after a rocket attack but the UN says no aid has entered
The Israeli military said Wednesday that it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, a key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid that was closed over the weekend after a Hamas rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers nearby.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.