3. The Bad News Boars Wild boars were brought to Alberta in the 1990s to be farmed for meat and hunted for sport. Thousands of wild boars have since escaped and are running loose in Alberta. They are able to survive and reproduce in the Canadian climate.

These non-native animals have destroyed crops and burrowed holes in the ground throughout southern Alberta. When cornered, they can be aggressive.

Pork producers have expressed concerns that the wild boars could spread disease.

In 2008, Alberta passed a law declaring wild boars that have escaped from game farms to be pests.

Animals that stray from the property of their owners can be killed. No hunting licence is necessary, but the landowner’s written permission is required. A $50 bounty has been offered for each feral pig that is killed. Landowners must now report and wipe out non-captive boars; otherwise provincial officials can kill the animals and send a bill to the landowner.22 Not everyone welcomes such legislation. Informing other people presents numerous communication challenges. Answer the following questions based on Alberta’s anti-boar law.

a. Would it be more appropriate for the provincial government’s announcement of the new legislation to follow a direct or indirect organizational strategy? Why?

b. Assume that a boar rancher wants to decline a request from his neighbours to allow them on his land to hunt boars that have escaped from his pens. Should his response follow a direct or indirect organizational strategy? Why?

c. Which of these opening lines would be most appropriate in a letter from the provincial government informing all farmers and large landowners of the new legislation?

■ Wild boars are aggressive, feral animals that were introduced to Alberta during the last decade.

■ The Government of Alberta has passed legislation requiring landowners to eradicate wild boars roaming loose on their property.