Thu, Nov 30th, 2023 - 2:13pm
November 17, 2023 - 4:20pm | By Tom Tucker
(Fargo, ND) -- Wildlife experts with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are expressing concerns about a potential spike in the number of feral pigs in the state.
"These are pigs, often they're Eurasian boar stock that's maybe been mixed with domestic pigs and what is surprising for a lot of folks is how well they've been potentially surviving in northern climates," said Leslie McInenly, Wildlife Populations and Regulations Manager for the agency.
McInenly says she and her colleagues are keeping a close eye on the growing numbers of wild pigs across the border in Canada.
The agency has also recently taken public input on potential steps to take aimed at preventing the presence of herds in the state.
Feral pigs can cause significant damage to vegetation and can threaten native wildlife.
There are an estimated 6 million wild pigs in the United States.
They've been reported in 35 states with recent sightings in North Dakota and Wisconsin.
