Hungry, friendly pig rescued from the side of Highway 97 in the interior of B.C.

A Prince George pig rescue is looking for a forever home for a "very friendly, very hungry" pig who was found alone on the side of Highway 97 in the southern interior of British Columbia.

Kerri Hegel, who runs Tickled Pig Rescue, said the pigshowed up outside of a woman's house north of Clinton,a village about 400 kilometres south of Prince George, last Friday.

The woman contacted Star's Piggly Wiggly's Sanctuaryin Summerland, about 290 kilometres southeast of Clinton, but it was full, Hegel said, adding the sanctuary called her.

"He needed help," said Hegel. "He deserves a life. He ended up with us for a reason."

He appears to be a domestic pig of the Kunekune breed, Hegel said. And at about 125 pounds, he is very large for his age, which Hegel estimates to be under one year old.

Kunekunescan weigh up to 220 pounds, according to the British KunekunePig Society's website.

WATCH | Friendly pig enjoying temporary home:

Rescued pig needs new digs

6 months ago

Duration 0:45

Kerri Hegel, who runs Tickled Pig Rescue in Prince George, is looking for a forever home for a "very friendly, very hungry" pig found on the side of Highway 97 in the southern Interior of British Columbia.

Hegel picked the pig up Tuesday evening, and said he had torn up the lawn of the woman's house searching for food.

During the four-hourcar ride home, "he enjoyed listening to music and oinking at us every time we spoke."

Radio West8:59A Prince George woman is searching for a new home for a pig she rescued from a property north of Clinton

A Prince George woman is searching for a new home for a pig she rescued from a property north of Clinton

Hegel described the pig as a "pushy, hungry boy." She said the woman who was feeding him was afraid of him, and said he would sit on a hill outside her house staring in through the kitchen window.

His pig-headed nature is apparent, Hegel said, adding he escaped his pen by Wednesdaymorning and was socializing with the other pigs.

He is accustomed to people and adjusting to his temporary home with the nine other pigs although he is picking fights with the other males, which Hegel saidis normal behaviour.

Apart from what may be frostbite on the pig'sears and tail, he's in good shape and spirits, Hegel said, adding shehopes to get him looked at by a veterinarian soon.

Hegel has been contacted by several people interested in taking him, but many want him for food or for breeding. She said she is screening people carefully to ensure he ends up at a loving home.

"He's a lovable guy, we just don't want him to end up being anybody's food," said Hegel, who has been running the rescue for about six years.

Feral pigs advisory

Domestic pigs who escape their homes or are abandoned can establish feral pig populations,which can threatenwildlife, cause economic damage, and transmit diseases, according to the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society, a non-profit that aims to educate the public and manage invasive species in B.C.'s southern interior.

A release from the organization earlier this month warnedthe public that wild pig populationsmay arise from those who were displaced during summer wildfires. It said people should never release captive pigs into the wild and that if anyone sees wild pigs, they should report them.