Pigs were introduced into North America first, during the Spanish explorations, then by British and European colonists who came to farm this new country. Since pigs were hard to keep inside rudimentary fences, they were turned out into the forests to fend for themselves and be harvested as needed by the colonists. Ever since, the southern third of the U.S. has been a welcome habitat for feral pigs that have taken on traits common to their wild ancestors.
Although this population of feral hogs are hunted for sport, shot from airplanes and helicopters as pests, and trapped in corral-like traps, the number of pigs inhabiting areas of the Southeastern, Southwestern and Southern Plains states continues to be an expensive nuisance for farmers.