Sugar Land, Texas, a suburb of Houston, isn’t just growing in its number of residents – it’s growing in its wild hog population, too.
One large herd has been reported tearing up neighborhoods and running through the streets, reports Fox 26 News.
But residents don’t know how to stop it.
From digging for worms and other grubs in homeowners’ yards to crossing busy roads, concerns are growing.
Edward Dickey of Texas Wild Hog Control showed Fox 26 where dozens of patches of grass were dug up and overturned by wild hogs. He also said the hogs can get into sprinkler systems and cause expensive damage.
In addition, the feral pigs can carry E.coli and other diseases that can get into water systems, Fox 26 reports.
Dickey suggests residents encourage their homeowners’ associations to hire professional trappers.
“When we’re in the city limits, there are firearm restrictions, so if we need to take out the hogs, what we’ll use is a high-powered air rifle. It’s 3,000 pounds of air pressure,” Dickey told Fox 26.
Wild hogs are smart, and that makes it even more challenging to capture them.
Some researchers have been working on baits to help reduce the population of feral pigs. For example, scientists with the Louisiana State University AgCenter and the LSU Department of Chemistry are working on a bait and delivery system to help reduce the population of feral pigs.
Read More:
How Colorado Eliminated Feral Hogs
Truth, Lies and Wild Pigs: Missouri Hunter Prosecuted on Presumption of Guilt?
Feral Swine: USDA Monitors World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species
