In the vast prairies of Alberta, an invasive menace lurks in the shadows of crops and wetlands: feral wild boars. These prolific animals, a mix of Eurasian wild boars and escaped domestic pigs known as 'super pigs,' are wreaking havoc on agriculture, ecosystems, and public health. With their nocturnal habits and intelligence, traditional control methods like trapping have proven insufficient. Enter the University of Calgary's innovative research harnessing artificial intelligence (AI)-powered drones—a breakthrough in invasive species management that promises to revolutionize detection and response strategies.

Alberta's wild boar population has exploded since the 1980s when farmers imported Eurasian boars for meat production. Escapes and releases led to self-sustaining herds, now numbering in the thousands across the province. These pests root up fields, contaminate water sources, prey on native wildlife, and carry devastating diseases like African swine fever, which could cripple Canada's $5 billion pork industry. In the U.S., similar feral swine cause $1.5 billion in annual agricultural damage; experts warn Alberta faces comparable risks without swift action.

The University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has positioned itself at the forefront of this battle. Assistant Professor Mathieu Pruvot, a veterinary epidemiologist with expertise in wildlife-livestock interfaces, leads key projects. His work, funded by Result Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) and Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) grants totaling over $400,000, examines population dynamics, disease risks, and contact structures between wild boars and livestock.

PhD student Devin Fitzpatrick's research uses GPS collars and camera traps to produce Canada's first wild boar density estimates, revealing cryptic behaviors that evade ground surveys. Pruvot's team collaborates with Alberta Agriculture on the Wild Boar at Large Detection Project, integrating AI drones to overcome these challenges. 'We’ve learned over the years that wild pigs are very, very cryptic,' Pruvot notes, emphasizing aerial surveillance's value.

This higher education-led initiative exemplifies how Canadian universities drive practical solutions for provincial crises, blending veterinary science, ecology, and technology.

Launched in spring 2024, this collaborative project between Alberta Agriculture, Alberta Pork, and UCalgary deployed drones over 3,000 square kilometers across two sites: Peace River and near Edmonton. Thermal infrared cameras captured heat signatures at night, when boars are most active. AI models analyzed footage, achieving over 75% accuracy in identifying boars—a vast improvement over manual methods.

The project's final report, published March 2026, evaluates two object detection models trained on local footage, GPS-collared 'spy pigs,' Manitoba data, and U.S. USDA images. It creates standardized sighting databases and digital habitat maps predicting hotspots near Edmonton and Grande Prairie—areas with water, crops, and former boar farms.

Complementing the Squeal on Pigs campaign, which garnered 72 reports in 2025 (11 confirmed boars), the project shifts from reactive trapping—380 boars culled since 2018—to proactive monitoring.

1. Deployment: Fixed-wing or multirotor drones fly autonomously over large areas, equipped with thermal cameras sensitive to infrared heat (8-14 μm wavelength).

2. Capture: Night flights record video of warm-bodied boars (body temp ~38°C) against cooler backgrounds.

3. AI Analysis: Computer vision models (e.g., YOLO variants) process frames in real-time or post-flight, detecting bounding boxes around heat signatures, classifying as boar vs. non-target (deer, rocks).

4. Validation: GPS collars on sounder leaders confirm movements; human review refines AI.

5. Mapping: Integrate with GIS for habitat suitability models using land cover, water proximity, and sightings.

This process covers vast terrain efficiently, detecting elusive groups in dense cover where ground teams fail.

Pilot flights confirmed boars in targeted hotspots, validating AI's utility. Accuracy exceeded 75%, with potential for 90%+ via refined training on piglet data and non-boar species. The habitat model identifies priority zones, aiding targeted trapping. UCalgary's Pruvot highlights its role in population estimates and disease surveillance.

Broader Canadian context: U Saskatchewan's Ryan Brook praises aerial views for nocturnal, cover-hiding boars. National efforts like Canadian Wild Pig Research Group underscore university leadership.

• Tree canopies block thermal signatures.
• Small piglets evade detection.
• False positives from warm rocks/branches.
• AI struggles with group counting.
• Regulatory hurdles for beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights.

Solutions include multi-sensor fusion (RGB+thermal), advanced models like transformers, and ground truthing. Pruvot's team addresses these in ongoing RDAR-funded work.

Wild boars threaten Alberta's $2.5B pork sector via African swine fever (ASF)—no vaccine, 100% mortality. UCalgary research maps transmission risks, informing biosecurity. Ecologically, boars outcompete natives, destroy wetlands. Proactive drone use prevents U.S.-style $1.5B losses.RDAR Wild Pigs Project

Alberta Pork's Hannah McKenzie: 'Drones are invaluable for large-scale monitoring.' Farmers report crop losses; policymakers eye hunting legalization. Brook (U Sask): 'National strategy needed.' UCalgary positions as hub for One Health solutions.

Beyond drones, Pruvot's lab studies disease ecology, funded by $423K RDAR. PhD opportunities explore spread models. Ties to global WCS work enhance expertise.

Plans include AI refinement, eDNA integration, expanded flights. UCalgary eyes postdocs for quantitative ecology. National summits like Canadian Wild Pig Summit II foster collaboration. Higher ed's role in tech-agri intersections grows.

For Canadian universities, this exemplifies interdisciplinary innovation addressing climate-amplified invasives.

Photo by 99.films on Unsplash

• Invest in AI training datasets for local fauna.
• Combine drones with collars/eDNA for robust monitoring.
• Policy: Ban boar farms, incentivize reporting.
• Education: Vet programs like UCalgary's train One Health experts.

This UCalgary-led effort offers a blueprint for sustainable invasive management.