Pests and Disease
The County strives to assist the public with agricultural nuisances and pests, through education, inspection and programming. This includes Noxious and Prohibited Noxious Weeds, crop and livestock diseases, and vermin. Contact the County with any questions or concerns at 780-542-7777.
Forage and crops
There are a range of forage pests that Albertans face. A portion of the Alberta Forage Manual covers pests present and controls that can be utilized. Some notable ones are the Alfalfa Weevil, Pea Aphid and the grasshopper.
Fusarium head blight and clubroot also affect crops species more specifically.
Agricultural Pests Act and Pest and Nuisance Control Regulation
Livestock
The Government of Alberta has as list of confirmed regulated livestock disease cases, many of which have the ability to cross from species to species. There is also a list of the provincially reportable and notifiable diseases available for producers and animal owners.
Rats
The Province of Alberta operates a Rat Control program to keep the province free of resident populations of rats. Brazeau County’s Agricultural Services Division also assists to keep the County rat-free. Rats require living with humans and within there structures and do not survive well within wild areas. They are considered a pest under the “Agricultural Pest Act of Alberta (1942)”. You can phone 310-FARM (3276) or contact our Agricultural Department if you have any questions or concerns. You can also visit History of Rat Control in Alberta.
Wild boar
Brazeau County is currently free of wild boar but there are surrounding counties with nuisance populations. Wild boar are considered a pest under the Agricultural Pests Act and it is required to control the populations present. For more information, you can contact the Agricultural Department or call 310-FARM (3276).
If you see a wild boar at large, dead or alive:
Beavers
Contact the local Trappers Association or the local Fish & Wildlife office for information and assistance with nuisance beavers on private property.
Coyotes and foxes
The control of predators falls under the jurisdiction of the Wildlife Act and Agricultural Pests Act. If you are dealing with larger predators this is under the Wildlife Act and you would need to contact Fish and Wildlife to gain further understanding of the options available. Brazeau County does rent an array of traps including traps suitable for foxes.
Porcupine, skunks, etc.
Brazeau County rents an array of traps suitable for trapping porcupine, groundhog, skunks and squirrels.
Important Numbers
Please feel free to contact the Agricultural Department for any questions and concerns you have. Please call 780-542-7777. If we cannot answer your questions we will be able to direct you to who can. If you have an emergency please call 911 or your local veterinary office.
Brazeau County’s after hours emergency phone number is 780-898-9901.
Agricultural Pests Act and Regulation