History
Swine were domesticated from wild boars in Asia around 10,000 years ago. Led by nomads and warriors alike, the pigs spread throughout Asia and Europe. Wild boars aren’t native to North America, and the first pigs brought to the continent were domesticated herds carried by the Spaniards. Some escaped captivity and returned to their wild ways, forming the first herds of North American wild pigs in the 1500s. Those herds were augmented by other escapees through the centuries. In the early 1900s, the Eurasian wild boar was introduced to North America. Escapes, movement, and even illegal activities have resulted in a wild pig population that now exists in 45 states.