Mountain View County's agricultural service board has been updated on some of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development's plans to help prevent farmed wild boar from escaping confinement.
A written report on the issue was presented to members during the board's regularly scheduled meeting on April 14.
Agricultural service boards across the province have contributed to the information gathering process regarding escaped wild boars, which have been deemed an invasive species under provincial regulations.
The consultations have now resulted in the development of new minimum containment standards for wild boar “as the first step in resolving the problem of wild boar at large.”
“By having all wild boar producers compliant with the minimum standards, it is hoped that no further wild boar will escape into the wild,” said Lyle Marianchuk, with the Animal Health and Assurance Division of Alberta Agriculture.
The new standards are being implemented in two stages: a requirement for staking existing fences by Oct. 1, 2014 and upgrades to comply to the new minimum containment standards by the end of 2018.
There are in fact two acceptable minimum containment standards, both requiring electric fencing and a minimum fence height of 1.5 metres.
“It is expected that all producers will maintain their fence in good condition at all times,” he said. “This will include, but not be limited to, maintaining proper tension on the fencing material, ensuring that vegetation is trimmed below the electric wires, and replacing fence posts as required.”
