The Woodlands Township, near Houston, recently approved the hiring of a special consultant to develop a game plan to reduce the feral hog population, KHOU 11 reports. The consultant will be paid $25,000 for their work.
Creek beds near The Woodlands serve as a “hog highway,” leading the feral animals into the yards and homes of locals.
Not only is the destruction a concern, but the safety of community members as well. Hogs have been sighted as early as 5:30 a.m. when children are waiting for their bus ride to school.
Wildlife recovery businesses are setting up traps along a creek that led the hogs into the community.
The wild pig population in Texas ranges from 3 to 5 million pigs, which is a conservative estimate according to experts.
Wildlife experts believe that 70 to 75% of the feral hog population must be eradicated each year just to keep up with the pigs’ reproduction rate, according to KHOU.