Minnesota Bracing For Canadian Super-Pig Invasion

Back in October 2025, we first reported on the looming threat of "Canadian Super Pigs" as they moved within 18 miles of the Minnesota border. Fast forward to the present, and the situation has shifted from a regional curiosity to a full-blown state priority for officials in the North Star State.

While the border remains the front line, Minnesota is now officially getting ahead of the problem in some creative and unique ways.

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READ MORE: Canadian Super Pigs Are Just 18 Miles From the Minnesota Border

These aren't your average farm animals. A crossbreed between domestic swine and wild Eurasian boars, these "super pigs" have developed the perfect survival kit for our harsh climate. Size-wise, the pigs can weigh up to 400 pounds and have a thick, hairy coat that allows them to thrive at -40 degrees below zero. In fact, they’ve even been documented "igloo-ing", or tunneling into the snow, to stay warm during brutal winters, making Minnesota a potential home. If they can survive in Canada, they can certainly survive in the 'North Star State'.

To monitor this movement, federal officials with the USDA have been utilizing high-tech surveillance along the border. Using drones and aircraft equipped with thermal imaging, they are scanning high-risk zones for "heat signatures" in the heavy brush where these pigs hide. This allows authorities to spot potential movement before a group, or "sounder," can establish a foothold in our state.

As of the writing of this article, the 'Land of Ten Thousand Lakes' is considered feral-swine-free, and the goal is to keep it that way to protect the state's $8 billion pork industry. The Minnesota DNR has a clear message for residents: If you spot a group, do not attempt to hunt them yourself. Shooting a single pig often scatters the rest, making them far more difficult for professional trappers to capture.

To learn more about the Super Pigs, just across the border, and how to deal with them if you see one, check out this article from the Minnesota DNR here.