Wild Boars Breeding Like Crazy, Wreaking Havoc In Saskatchewan

That's right, Saskatchewan:

Saskatchewan's familiar landscape of endless golden wheat fields, lush valleys and scenic provincial parks could be in for one ugly makeover. That is, unless the province can get its feral wild boar population under control. The large, furry, tusked animals are quickly multiplying across the province and, much like a tornado, leaving swaths of destruction in their wake. 

They dig up and flatten farmland, eat crops and other vegetation, harass livestock and even people and can carry a plethora of diseases and parasites that can be easily transmitted to people and livestock.

The minimal damage that wild boars have caused so far in Canada, is just the tip of the iceberg warns Biologist Ryan Brook. He published a study this year on the distribution of wild boars throughout the southern half of Saskatchewan and says they could soon outnumber the roughly 1.1 million people who call this province home. 

"Given what we know about their biology, there massive ability to expand and grow is huge," said Brook. "They can have two litters per year, on average six or more per litter. They have high survival, virtually no predators, and so their potential to be a huge, invasive species in Canada is definitely a reality. "

"Invasive"--oh, so you mean that they're not native to the Prairies?:

Wild boar were first imported to Saskatchewan in the late 1980s and early 1990s as part of an attempt to diversify agriculture.

The "genius" who first suggested this kind of "diversity" should get one of those Darwin Awards.

Update: At least Saskatchewan's wild boars aren't radioactive.