Manitoba’s wild pig control program is seeing increased success in trapping and removing invasive animals, particularly in a hotspot near Spruce Woods Provincial Park. Wayne Lees, coordinator of the Squeal on Pigs campaign, said trapping efforts have largely focused on one trouble area within the province. “We've really ramped up our trapping activities in the last year or so, and so that's being reflected in the numbers of pigs that are being removed. Our efforts continue around the province, but we're putting a special emphasis on the what we call the hotspot, that's around Spruce Woods Park.” While public reports of wild pig sightings haven’t seen a significant increase, Lees said targeted investigations and direct contact with landowners have led to more successful captures. “Even though the public reports aren’t showing a huge spike, the amount of pigs that we’re actually able to capture has really gone up." Eurasian wild boar, the species of concern, were introduced to Manitoba in the 1980s and ’90s as part of an agricultural diversification effort. The animals didn’t thrive in farming environments and many escaped, eventually establishing populations in the area around Spruce Woods. Since their introduction to the region, they have been classified as an invasive species, causing damage to farms and local ecosystems. The Squeal on Pigs campaign aims to raise public awareness and encourage residents to report sightings. Reports can be submitted online at squealonpigsmb.org or by calling 1-833-SPOT-PIG. “So, if folks report through either one of those methods, we'll take down their information and get back to them. After that, we'll interview all the landowners in that area to see if they've seen signs of wild pigs. And if they have, then we'll proceed and set up trapping sites so that we can remove them.” Lees said fall and winter are particularly effective seasons for locating and trapping wild pigs, and encouraged residents in the areas between Portage and Carberry to stay vigilant. “We really appreciate people who take the time to let us know when they see wild pigs. That really does assist us in finding where these animals are located.”