ROUND ROCK, Texas — It’s no laughing matter that residents’ lawns in Round Rock are being cleared of grubs and insects, acorns, roots and tubers. An invasion of feral hogs has residents wondering what happened to their nicely kept yards of late, as a band of these wild pigs roam and party in the dark of night. Never mind social distancing. Having a great time, snouts to dirt, these pigs are in search of tasty treats in the Hidden Glen neighborhood.
A resident recently posted a video online which was aired on KVUE News that shows the porky pests in action at a street median in Round Rock.
The state of Texas long ago declared feral hogs a nuisance and offers a bounty for these dead trespassers. However, according to Texas AgriLife Extension Service (TAES), feral hogs are considered exotic livestock, and therefore are not owned by anyone. They are only owned “once captured and killed by someone on private or public lands.”
Landowners are allowed to kill the pesky animals if they are causing damage to a person’s property. A hunting license is not needed. However, if one plans to trap or snare these hogs, a Texas hunting license is required, according to TAES. Having a hunting license does permit the use of firearms. Yet, the City of Round Rock does not allow a firearm to be discharged inside city limits, so that’s not an option for residents. It is suggested to contact the local game warden if wanting to track and destroy these critters. Kind of a Catch22.
If planning to trap them, TAES says to place traps “along hog trails linking resources such as food, cover and water.” However, don’t place the trap where there is ongoing damage, as the hogs prefer the food source that is there on the area which they have already damaged. TAES suggests it is better to place traps along the trails, such as along a fence line, where they likely crawl under and leave swatches of hair on wires.
While dead feral hogs can be cleaned and eaten, they at times can carry parasites, such as hookworms, according to TAES. Therefore, safe cooking practices are advised before eating the meat. FarmProgress says that hunting ranches charge people as much as $900 to target and shoot a large hog. Also, some customers from Europe like to eat wild boar meat and consider it a delicacy.
There are more than five million feral hogs in the country, with 1.5 million throughout most of Texas. A sow can reproduce twice within 12 to 15 months and have four to eight piglets in a litter.
It seems the Hidden Glen Association will have to tackle this hog problem before long.
Perhaps instead of turkey this Thanksgiving, there could be hog served up on many tables, to the delight (or not) of residents.