Crop damage caused by wild boar. (File photo: Government of Alberta)

By Drew Stremick/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Damage caused by wild boars added to compensation program

Sep 17, 2022 | 12:20 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – As wild boar populations continue to grow in Alberta, producers are being forced to deal with increasing levels of damage caused by the invasive species.

As a result of the growing risks of the feral pig populations across the province, the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) has expanded its compensation program to include wild boars as part of its Wildlife Damage Compensation Program.

AFSC’s manager of product knowledge and pricing Daniel Graham says the categories that producers can qualify for compensation are fairly broad.

“Following this change, the program will compensate producers for wild boar damage to eligible unharvested hay crops and eligible annual unharvested crops, wildlife-excreta contaminated crops, stacked greenfeed, and silage in pits and tubes,” says Graham.

However, Graham says in order to be eligible for compensation, producers need to get the damage assessed.

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“To be eligible for a payment, producers need to allow Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development specialists access to their property to review the damage, provide recommendation to prevent further damage, and to conduct wild boar eradication,” explains Graham.

Aerial view of crop damage caused by wild boar. (File photo: Government of Alberta)

In Alberta, wild boar are considered an invasive species, and a provincially regulated agricultural pest when at large. Currently, the provincial government is running two programs aimed at controlling wild boar populations in the province.

• Whole Sounder Trapping Incentive Program – Encourages the elimination of entire sounders, with approved trappers receiving $75 per set of ears per sounder. This program is administered by participating municipalities and runs from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2024.
• Wild Boar at Large Ear Bounty Program – An optional one-year bounty pilot program that helps with government surveillance efforts. Hunters receive $75 per set of wild boar ears. This program is administered by participating municipalities and runs from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.

For more details on the AFSC Wildlife Damage Compensation Program, visit the AFSC website. More information on how to mitigate the spread of wild boar at large is available on the Government of Alberta website.