Released November 26, 2008
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Farmers have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, but when it comes to feral hogs, it's the season of discontent, made worse by hard economic times for farmers, according to reports by Texas AgriLife Extension Service personnel.
"Man, they're terrible over here," said Galen Logan, AgriLife Extension agent forCamp County in East Texas. "There's been increased awareness due to the economic hardship that our local farmers are facing, but we're definitely seeing larger groups and more often."
Logan said there have been reports of damage by hogs within the city limits of Pittsburg. "Feral hogs are a sore subject here," said Kenny Rolling, AgriLife Extension agent for Titus County in Mount Pleasant.
Feral hog sightings are increasing in his county too, and Rollins said the size of the herds, called sounders, seem to be increasing as well. They continually tear up the pastures on the 150 acres Rollins maintains.
"I've seen groups as large as 50," Rollins said. "There are places where I can't get over with my four-wheel-drive tractor."
Rollins said he has caught a few in traps, but it's been getting harder. He attributed the difficulty in trapping to feral hogs being "fast learners" when it comes to traps and to the large acorn crop in his area.
With plenty to eat, hogs aren't so tempted to enter the fenced-in traps. But plenty of acorns doesn't seem to stop hogs from rooting up pastures.
"If it doesn't get any better, I'm going to have to give up the pastures. I can't afford to spend thousands every year repairing the damage," he said.
"Oh man, it's bad here too," said Armon M. Hewitt, AgriLife Extension agent for Trinity County, southwest of Lufkin.
Hewitt said there haven't been reports of hogs in Groveton, where his office is, or in other small towns in his county. For now, their intrusions are limited to pastures, home lawns on the outskirts of towns and golf courses.
At the golf courses, the hogs tend to stay on the back areas, but Hewitt expects they will soon be on the greens and in the towns as they seem to getting "bolder and bolder," as their numbers increase.
"Something has got to be done or they are just going to get worse and worse," he said.
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