The history of wild hogs can be traced back to when Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto landed in Tampa Bay with a stock of 13 domesticated pigs in 1539. The juicy meat which was relished fresh and cured found instant fandom. And the lard found its way into various industries from soap making to medicine. Meanwhile, hogs started to escape from their enclosure and free ranged into the wild. Amidst the wilderness, they ate voraciously, bred profusely, and were quick to shed their domesticated traits; to become what we now know as wild or feral hogs.
Today, as many as 3 million of these wild hogs populate and terrorize Texas. They can be spotted everywhere from the farms in the Panhandle – Plains to the luxurious malls in our cities.
Damage Caused by Wild Hogs
Wild hogs are opportunistic omnivores ravaging and scavenging on anything and everything that comes their way. The Local Land Services Act of 2013 has given these invasive intruders the status of “pest animals” to control their ballooning population. Feral hogs are notorious for the following reasons:
- Devouring entire farmlands growing agricultural crops like sorghum, peanuts, potatoes, watermelon and likes within the span of a night. In 2014 alone Texas endured 49% agricultural damage due to these ravenous swine.
- They have caused significant damage to native species and livestock by feasting on their eggs and preying on the little ones.
- Excessive rooting to satiate their voracious appetite destroys precious forest cover, grasslands, and habitat while adding to the erosion problem.
- Well-manicured parks and golf courses become their appetizers, leaving the beautiful stretches of greenery disheveled within hours.
- Their love for wallowing in rivers, springs, and creeks contaminate these water sources with the dreadful E. coli.
- Wild swine are carriers of parasites and infections like porcine brucellosis, porcine parvovirus, tuberculosis, etc. which can get transmitted to livestock and pets.
- Reports of these wild hogs unleashing their aggression on innocent residents of Texas are also not uncommon.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated $2.5 billion in damage caused by feral hogs annually. However, experts are of the opinion that the actual damage extends way beyond agriculture and costs far more.
The Solution – Wild Hog Traps
A well-made, robust hog trap is your best defense against these wild trespassers. Innovative designs like our 12’ round drop hog traps are highly efficient in capturing entire sounders of wild hogs within the blink of an eye.
Wild hogs are super smart. They can readily recognize a traditional trap. However, when the trap is suspended smartly 36 inches above the ground, the hogs walk into it completely unalarmed. And, boom! A successful catch!
Tips to Make the Most out of a Hog Trap
1. Free feeding
Attract hogs by offering them a feast over a period of time. If they seem to be visiting regularly, it’s time to set up the trap.
2. Seek a good site
Look for signs of swine activity like evidence of rooting, wallowing and tracks. Then, set your trap in the most active area.
3. Euthanize with care
Do the job humanely, quickly and discreetly to avoid causing panic within the trap. An aggressive group of wild hogs is bad news for you!
With our smart and affordable wild hog traps at your disposal, controlling the swine nuisance of Texas is now an easier path to tread. Call to order yours today: 979-661-1535 or 979-270-2161.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much damage do wild hogs cause in Texas?
The cost of damage caused by wild hogs stands at a whopping $2.5 billion dollars, forecasts the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, these ravenous pigs have also impacted –
- Native species of flora and fauna
- Forest cover
- Landscape
- Water quality
- The health and well-being of livestock and pets.
What is the most effective way to control the wild hog population?
Texas spends over $4 million annually in an attempt to control the exploding wild hog population. Some of the ways it encourages its citizens to add to that effort are:
- Hunting
- Poisoning
- Trapping
Trapping is the most efficient and effortless way of capturing hogs, even when they are in large sounders.
Are wild hogs dangerous?
Reports of wild hogs getting aggressive with humans are not unheard of. However, they pose the highest threat to livestock and pets in Texas. They not only carry a plethora of transmittable diseases but are also notorious for attacking young and small pets.
How many wild hogs are in Texas?
Close to 80% of Texas serves as a habitat for the highly adaptive wild hogs. It is estimated that Texas is populated by 3 million of these invaders and the number is ballooning each passing day. Their highest population densities occur in East, South and Central Texas.
