Wild boar terrorizes Texas town, angers locals: ‘I can’t go out and explode’
A herd of feral hogs has been wreaking havoc in Irving, Texas, leaving residents frustrated as their properties are destroyed by the invasive animals.
According to WFAA, as many as 10 pigs are tearing up yards and rummaging through trash left for garbage collectors.
Locals are frustrated after they repaired yards that had been dug up by pigs, only to have the animals wreak havoc again.
“A few weeks ago, I started seeing some digs in the ground,” homeowner Eric Mendez told WFAA, noting that he had a camera set up in a tree to capture the culprit.
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A herd of feral hogs has been terrorizing the city of Irving, Texas. (Getty Images)
“To my surprise, there was a pig in the shot,” he said.
But there’s more than one pig digging the land. There are as many as 10 in number, some quite large.
Others also reported pig damage, including Mendez’s neighbor, whose landscaping had been dug up, and Barbara Busch Middle School.
Trash was also scattered across several properties.
The city of Irvine says it is aware of the problem and has hired a wildlife contractor to fix it. Officials said they believe the hogs came from a wooded area near Grapevine Creek.
Feral swine cause about $400 million in damage in Texas each year, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and annual losses nationally are estimated at about $1.5 billion.
Up to 10 pigs are tearing up yards and rummaging through rubbish left for garbage collectors. (Getty Images)
Farmers and ranchers who frequently experience hog destruction can hunt on private land without a license or hire people to hunt the animals, and there are no limits on the number killed. But hunting them on public lands requires a standard hunting license, WFAA reports.
Homeowners in Irvine initially floated the idea of shooting pigs, but later realized they shouldn’t be shooting the animals in a suburban setting.
“My first thought was, OK, I can go shoot them,” Mendez said. “But I thought, yeah, I’m nearby. I can’t just go out and explode.”
While looking for alternatives, Mendez came up with the idea of using a slingshot and shooting two pieces of wood to scare away the pigs.
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Texas feral hogs cause an estimated $400 million in damage each year. (Roger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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“I was wondering, can I do something here?” he said.
Pigs are known to attack pets and humans if they feel threatened. They also reproduce quickly, with a sow giving birth to two litters of six to eight piglets per year.
“I didn’t expect something that big to come out of the creek,” Mendez said.
“It’s troublesome,” he added.
