Data Portal · Reference
Methodology & Citation
This page documents the data sources, confidence levels, and update cadence behind the Regional Wild Hog Activity Monitor, and provides a ready-made citation for researchers and journalists.
Data last updated: July 8, 2026
Data Sources
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service / Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute
Statewide population and agricultural damage estimates for Texas.
agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/asset-local/feral-hog-management/
- USDA APHIS Feral Swine Distribution
National and county-level presence data across the United States.
www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/wildlifedamage/operational-activities/feral-swine
- Wild Hog Working Group Annual State Summary Report
Multi-state population range estimates and management program summaries.
www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/wildlifedamage/operational-activities/feral-swine/sa-fs-history
Methodology Notes
Estimates, not census counts
Wild hog populations are inherently difficult to measure precisely. Every figure shown on this monitor — statewide totals, county-level population estimates, and annual growth projections — is an estimate. Figures vary meaningfully between sources, agencies, and methodologies, and by the season in which surveys were conducted. Nothing on this site should be read as an exact count.
Two different confidence levels
The monitor combines two distinct kinds of information, and they should not be treated as equivalent:
- Confirmed county presence — well-documented and consistently reported across sources. When a county is shown as having a known hog population, that presence is considered established.
- Population estimate — a sourced range, not a measurement. These numbers carry meaningfully more uncertainty than presence data and should always be interpreted as ranges even when displayed as a single figure.
Update cadence
The underlying county dataset was last updated on July 8, 2026, based on the most recent record in the tracker database. No fixed review schedule has been established yet. We intend to refresh source figures whenever the cited agencies publish updated state or national summaries — typically on an annual cycle — and the timestamp above (and on any CSV export) always reflects the most recent update to the underlying data.
Ready-Made Citation
Texas Hog Dispatch Regional Wild Hog Activity Monitor, July 21, 2026, texashogdispatch.com/tracker. Data sourced from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and USDA APHIS.
Contact for Data Inquiries
Press and researcher questions about the figures shown on this monitor can be directed to data@texashogdispatch.com.