A coordinated response by state officials, federal wildlife specialists, and a Montana-based nonprofit has brought an end to concerns over more than 100 pigs that had been roaming uncontained in Phillips County.

According to those involved, the animals were successfully trapped and removed, and to the best of everyone’s knowledge, no swine remains at large.

The pigs were delivered to The Producer Partnership, a USDA federally inspected, nonprofit-owned meat processing facility in Livingston, where processing was completed earlier this month. The effort produced 12,160 pounds of USDA-inspected pork, now being transported in a full semi-load to the Montana Food Bank Network for distribution to food banks and community partners across the state.

Matt Pierson, founder and president of The Producer Partnership, said the outcome reflects the organization’s mission and the strength of collaboration.

“When neighbors come together, real problems can turn into real solutions,” Pierson said. “What started as a local concern has resulted in nutritious, Montana-raised protein reaching families who need it.”

The situation came to light after Wildlife Services, an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reported signs of swine activity during an unrelated investigation near Malta along the Hi-Line. While responding to a call about a possible bear conflict, federal staff identified tracks and other evidence consistent with pigs in the area.

The Montana Department of Livestock was notified the following day and determined that roughly 100 pigs were present and running without containment. State officials said the animals were beginning to display behaviors associated with feral swine, prompting immediate action. The pigs were trapped under state supervision and transported for processing, with officials stressing that all known animals were accounted for.

Montana law prohibits the possession or release of feral swine, as well as allowing pigs to live in a feral state. The restrictions were adopted to prevent environmental damage, agricultural loss, and disease transmission. Feral swine are considered invasive by wildlife managers due to their ability to destroy habitat, prey on native species, and spread illnesses such as brucellosis.

Montana State Veterinarian Tahnee Szymanski said pigs do not need long to revert to feral behavior once they escape standard livestock management.

“Domestic swine can change very quickly when they’re outside the normal checks of production systems,” Szymanski said in a press release. “This is a reminder that situations like this can happen anywhere if animals are not properly contained.”

While the Department of Livestock receives several reports of suspected feral swine each year, Szymanski said those cases have historically involved domestic pigs running loose. In this instance, a death in the family that owned the animals contributed to the delay in addressing the issue.

With the pigs now fully removed and processed, the Montana Food Bank Network will oversee distribution of the donated pork to local food banks and agencies across the state. The project resolved public concerns while converting a potential agricultural and environmental risk into a resource for families experiencing food insecurity.