Furry Feral Hogs On The Loose In Southern Minnesota: Reports

FARIBAULT COUNTY, MN — Feral hogs have been causing trouble in southern Minnesota, according to reports.

The non-native species has been spotted in Faribault County in recent weeks, according to southernminnesotanews.com, which reported a group of the pigs was captured late last month near Blue Earth and turned over to state authorities after escaping a stockyard and, likely, breeding.

Mangalitsa pigs — which have thick fur and are known as the Kobe beef of swine — have been roaming the area, the Star Tribune reported, a cause for concern considering the invasive hogs do not have an established population in Minnesota.

Feral swine have been reported in 35 states and have an estimated population of over 6 million that continues to expand, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The hogs can transmit diseases to humans and other animals, and have been known to attack people.

It is illegal in Minnesota to hunt, possess or release feral swine.