Red Deer County is moving forward with the creation of a bylaw to ban wild boar farming operations.
Following a council meeting on June 7, a prohibited animals bylaw was drafted and adopted. In addition, required amendments to both the general penalty bylaw and the land use bylaw were also brought forward for discussion.
Red Deer County mayor Jim Wood said the county has attempted to deal with the wild boar issue for some time.
“There's been many times that we've been trying to work towards the control of these animals,” said Wood. “This is just the latest step.”
He noted first reading was granted to the (land use) bylaw at the county council meeting on Aug. 2 and a date has been set for a public hearing on Sept. 20.
“At that hearing we would likely hear from people regarding that bylaw,” he added, noting previous issues they've had with wild boars.
“Some of this has a long history. We've had problems in the past with these animals when they get away,” he said. “They're very dangerous animals.”
Wood pointed out both safety and agricultural concerns for residents and farmers in Red Deer County.
“Other jurisdictions have had them get away and then had an epidemic of them multiplying and creating more and more havoc,” he said. “I think the key thing is that Red Deer County is a very agricultural community and is this (wild boar farming) agriculture or is this hunting -- is this something that feeds people or is this something for sport,” explained Wood.
Neighbouring Mountain View County adopted an animal control bylaw in June 2016, prohibiting wild boar farming operations within that county. That bylaw carries substantial penalties with it including $4,000 for the first offence, $6,000 for the second and $8,000 for the third or subsequent offences.
Administration recommended Red Deer County adopt similar penalties.
“A lot of this is mirroring as what Mountain View County has already established,” said Wood. “When we tasked administration to bring something forward to us in June, they came back and (pointed out) a neighbouring municipality and what they're doing in a similar circumstance.”
Wood noted that Red Deer and Mountain View counties are not the only counties facing such a situation in Alberta and stressed the importance of public input on the issue at the Sept. 20 hearing.
“I know it's not unique to our municipality,” said Wood.
“We want to hear what the people have to say about it. We're trying to keep an open mind.”
The public hearing on the land use bylaw will be held at the Red Deer County Centre at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 20.
