Top 10 States with the Largest Wild Pig Populations

Wild hog populations are continuing to spread and move north in the U.S. As one of the most destructive invasive animal species in the U.S., the significant increase in the wild hog population is of great concern to many.  According to the USDA, wild hogs cause approximately $2.5 billion in agricultural damages each year. 

It's no wonder why the numbers are spiraling out of control. The species’ strength and rapid reproductive rate have led to exponential population growth: each litter of pigs averages around five offspring but can reach as many as 12, and wild sows average two litters per year.

Because wild hogs do not have substantial predators outside of humans and can live in a variety of climates, there is little to stop their continued spread, reports Captain Experiences in an analysis of the USDA and University of Georgia data. 

As a whole, the southern states bring in the overwhelming majority of feral hog reports. Most states in the South have experienced hog sightings in at least 90% of their counties, the report says. The wild pig's range has expanded more westward and northward over time, and states like California, Hawaii, Michigan and Pennsylvania now have fairly large feral hog populations as well.

The University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health has been tracking feral hog sightings with their Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS).

How is Your State's Wild Pig Population?

^{Source: EDDMapS. 2023. Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System. The University of Georgia - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Available online at http://www.eddmaps.org/; last accessed November 10, 2023.}

A recent report highlights the number of feral hog reports throughout the country. The number of counties affected by wild hogs has nearly tripled since the early 1980s, from 550 in 1982 to 1,496 in 2023. Here's a list of the top 10 states with the highest population of wild hogs. 

1. Texas with 2,425 feral hog reports

2. Georgia with 1,377 feral hog reports

3. Florida with 1,193 feral hog reports

4. Mississippi with 731 feral hog reports

5. Oklahoma with 665 feral hog reports

6. Arkansas with 657 feral hog reports

7. North Carolina with 655 feral hog reports

8. Louisiana with 613 feral hog reports

9. Alabama with 590 feral hog reports

10. California with 563 feral hog reports

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