A group of feral pigs have been terrorizing the city of Irving, Texas, frustrating residents as their property is destroyed by the invasive animals.
According to WFAA, up to 10 pigs have been tearing up yards and scavenging through trash left by garbage collectors.
Locals have been left frustrated after they repaired their yards dug up by pigs, only for the animals to return and wreak havoc again.
“A couple of weeks ago, I started seeing some digging on the land,” owner Eric Mendez told WFAA, noting he installed a camera in a tree to capture the culprit.
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A group of feral pigs have been terrorizing the city of Irving, Texas. (Getty Images)
“To my surprise, there was a pig in the chamber,” he said.
But there was more than one pig digging up the property. There were up to 10 and some were quite large.
Others have also reported destruction by the pigs, including Mendez's neighbor, whose landscape had been dug up, and Barbara Bush Middle School.
Garbage has also been scattered on several properties.
The city of Irving said it is aware of the problem and hired a wildlife contractor to address the situation. Authorities said they believe the pigs came from a wooded area near Grapevine Creek.
Feral swine cause an estimated $400 million in damage per year in Texas, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, while national costs are estimated at about $1.5 billion per year.
Up to 10 pigs have been tearing up yards and rummaging through rubbish left by garbage collectors. (Getty Images)
Farmers and ranchers who often suffer much of the hog destruction can hunt or hire someone to hunt the animals without a license on private land, with no limits on how many they can kill. But a standard hunting license is needed to hunt them on public lands, WFAA reported.
Homeowners in Irving initially came up with the idea of shooting and killing the pigs, but then realized they shouldn't fire a gun at the animals in a suburban neighborhood.
“The first thing I thought was, well, I can go shoot them,” Mendez said. “But I'm like, yeah, I'm in a neighborhood. I can't just go out and start making explosions.”
Looking for alternatives, Méndez came up with the idea of using slingshots and hitting two pieces of wood to scare away the pigs.
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Feral hogs cause an estimated $400 million in damage annually in Texas. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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“I was thinking, can I do something here?” said.
Pigs have been known to attack pets and humans if they feel threatened. They also reproduce at a rapid rate, as a single sow can give birth to up to two litters of six to eight piglets each year.
“I didn't expect something that big to start coming out of the creek,” Mendez said.
“It's a nuisance,” he added.
