USDA APHIS | History of Feral Swine in the Americas Skip to main content An official website of the United States government Here's how you know The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites always use a .gov or .mil domain. Before sharing sensitive information online, make sure you're on a .gov or .mil site by inspecting your browser's address (or "location") bar. This site is also protected by an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate that's been signed by the U.S. government. The https:// means all transmitted data is encrypted - in other words, any information or browsing history that you provide is transmitted securely. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture Toggle navigation About APHIS Ask USDA Careers Contact Us Help Home Our Focus Animal Health Animal Welfare Biotechnology Business Services Civil Rights Emergency & Regulatory Compliance Imports & Exports International Services One Health Plant Health Science Tribal Relations Wildlife Damage Resources Permits (APHIS eFile) Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements (ACIR) Pests and Diseases Regulatory Enforcement Farm Bill Funds Forms Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Inspection Reports Laws & Regulations Manuals & Guidelines Travelers Employee Services Newsroom News and Announcements Program Updates Federal Register Posts FOIA Reading Room Interactive Maps Image Gallery Media Contacts Publications USDA Newsroom Videos Pet Travel Blog Search Z6_N1CG0841LGED10AH9IKH7606U6 Error: Javascript is disabled in this browser. This page requires Javascript. Modify your browser's settings to allow Javascript to execute. See your browser's documentation for specific instructions. {} Z7_N1CG0841LGED10AH9IKH760614 History of Feral Swine in the Americas Component Action Menu ${title} ${loading} Actions USDA FAQ's and resources about coronavirus (COVID-19). LEARN MORE History of Feral Swine in the Americas Last Modified: Mar 9, 2023 Print Feral Swine Farm Bill Projects Identification Distribution Maps Damage Control Program Resources Contact Us Español Feral swine are not native to the Americas. They were first brought to the United States in the 1500s by early explorers and settlers as a source of food. Free-range livestock management practices and escapes from enclosures led to the first establishment of feral swine populations within the United States. In the 1900s, the Eurasian or Russian wild boar was introduced into parts of the United States for the purpose of sport hunting. Today, feral swine are a combination of escaped domestic pigs, Eurasian wild boars, and hybrids of the two. Feral swine have been reported in at least 35 states. Their population is estimated at over 6 million and is rapidly expanding. Range expansion over the last few decades is due to a variety of factors including their adaptability to a variety of climates and conditions, translocation by humans, and a lack of natural predators. Maps: Feral Swine Populations by County 1982 2004 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Manage the Damage - Stop Feral Swine Wildlife Services Home | Image Gallery | Contact Us Return to top Imports/Exports Permits Travelers Privacy Policy FOIA Non-Discrimination Statement Information Quality Plain Writing Accessibility Statement USDA.gov USA.gov WhiteHouse.gov Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA APHIS on Twitter USDA on Facebook USDA APHIS Email List USDA on Instagram USDA APHIS on Flickr USDA APHIS on Youtube Complementary Content ${title}${badge} ${loading}