Feral pigs terrorized a Texas town, enraged the locals: ‘I can’t go there and start mining’
A pack of wild boars is terrorizing the city Irving, Texaswhich frustrates residents as invasive animals destroy their properties.
As many as 10 pigs demolish gardens and dig through garbage left by scavengers, according to WFAA.
Locals became frustrated after fixing up their yards dug up by pigs, only for the animals to return and wreak havoc again.
“A few weeks ago, I started seeing some digging on the ground,” homeowner Eric Mendez told WFAA, noting that he had set up a camera on the tree to catch the culprit.
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A pack of wild hogs is terrorizing the city of Irving, Texas. (Getty Images)
“To my surprise, there was a pig on camera,” he said.
But there was more than one pig digging up the property. There were as many as 10 of them, and some were quite large.
Others also reported destruction by the pigs, including Mendez’s neighbor, whose landscape was dug up, and Barbara Bush High School.
Garbage was also strewn across several properties.
The city of Irving said it is aware of the problem and has engaged wildlife entrepreneur resolve the situation. Officials said they believe the pigs came from a wooded area near Grapevine Creek.
Feral hogs cause an estimated $400 million in damage annually in Texas, according to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, while national costs are estimated at about $1.5 billion annually.
As many as 10 pigs demolish homesteads and dig through garbage left by scavengers. (Getty Images)
Farmers and ranchers who often experience much of the hog depredation can hunt or hire someone to hunt the animals without a permit on private land, with no limit on how many can be killed. But hunting them on public lands requires a standard hunting license, WFAA reported.
Homeowners in Irving first came up with the idea of shooting and killing pigs, but then realized they shouldn’t be firing guns at animals in the suburbs.
“My first thought was, well, I can go shoot them,” Mendez said. “But I’m like, yeah, I’m in the neighborhood. I can’t just go over there and start blasting.”
Looking for alternatives, Mendez came up with the idea of using slingshots and clapping two pieces of wood to scare away the pigs.
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Feral hogs cause an estimated $400 million in damage annually in Texas. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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“I was thinking, is there anything I can do here?” he said.
Pigs are known to attack pets and people if they feel threatened. They also breed at a high rate, as one sow can give birth to up to two litters six to eight piglets every year.
“I didn’t expect something this big to start crawling out of the creek,” Mendez said.
– It’s a hassle – he added.
