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Vol. 16, No. 46, Wednesday, October 13, 2021 www.LamontLeader.com
Wild pigs spotted at Elk Island Jana Semeniuk Staff Reporter
Elk Island National Park has become home to wild pigs, making it the first Canadian national park to contain the invasive species. "Public sightings and video sightings provided by landowners confirm that there is at least one sounder (a sow and piglets) in the region that is known to periodically come into the park," Parks Canada spokesperson Janelle Verbruggen told CBC. Perry Abramenko, who runs the Alberta Government’s pig removal program, told the Canadian Press that pigs have been spotted in at least 28 counties. "The number of reports
received is increasing every year," he said. "Nobody can come up with whether there's
hundreds or thousands." Wild pigs, not native to Alberta, first came to the province as livestock in
the ‘80s and ‘90s. While some are still farmed as livestock today, over the years others have
m n v o G rta e lb A : c u s h P
escaped or produced hybrids. Not only can wild pigs destroy property, crops
and do environmental damage, they can also spread disease to humans and other animals such as tuberculosis, foot and mouth disease, as well as parvovirus. Additionally, they can carry transmittable parasites. According to the Alberta Invasive Species Council, adult wild pigs can weigh up to 150 kilograms. They are covered in a thick coat with males larger than females. Their upper canine teeth are visible when their mouths are closed. The AISC advises reporting a sighting of wild pig to municipal authorities as soon as possible and warns against approaching the pigs or allowing dogs to chase them.
Monitoring station named after Purves Lamont Fire Dept. responds to baler on fire
The Fort Air Partnership portable monitoring station was named after long time Partnership board member Keith Purves. FAP chairman Allan Wesley and Lamont mayor Bill Skinner were on hand Sept. 22, to congratulate Purves, centre. The portable air monitoring station is currently located in Lamont, behind the arena. Purves has been a board member of the FAP since its inception in 2002.
A baler was found in flames on Oct. 9 at about 7:15. Lamont Fire Department responded to the fire near Range Road 194 and Twp. Rd. 550. While the baler was destroyed, the fire was contained and there was no field fire. No damage estimate was available at press time.