Connect with us

Southwest

Feral hogs terrorizing Texas town, infuriating locals: 'I can't go out there and start blasting'

Published

on

Feral hogs terrorizing Texas town, infuriating locals: 'I can't go out there and start blasting'

A passel of feral hogs has been terrorizing the city of Irving, Texas, frustrating residents as their properties are destroyed by the invasive animals.

As many as 10 hogs have been tearing up yards and rooting through trash left for garbage collectors, according to WFAA.

Locals have become frustrated after they repair their yards dug up by the hogs, just for the animals to return to wreak havoc again.

“A couple of weeks back, I started seeing some diggings on the ground,” homeowner Eric Mendez told WFAA, noting that he set up a camera on a tree to capture the culprit.

FLORIDA MAN ATTACKED BY BEAR CUB AND BITTEN ON STOMACH WHILE DEFENDING DOG SAYS HE COULDN’T ‘WATCH HER DIE’

Advertisement

A passel of feral hogs has been terrorizing the city of Irving, Texas. (Getty Images)

“To my surprise, a pig was on the camera,” he said.

But there was more than one pig digging up the property. There were as many as 10, and some were quite large.

Others have reported destruction by the pigs as well, including Mendez’s neighbor, whose landscape had been dug up, and Barbara Bush Middle School.

Garbage has also been scattered across several properties.

Advertisement

The City of Irving said it is aware of the issue and has hired a wildlife contractor to address the situation. Officials said they believe the hogs are coming from a wooded area near Grapevine Creek.

Feral hogs cause an estimated $400 million in damage per year in Texas, according to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, while national costs are estimated at about $1.5 billion annually.

As many as 10 hogs have been tearing up yards and rooting through trash left for garbage collectors. (Getty Images)

Farmers and ranchers who often experience much of the pigs’ destruction can hunt or hire someone to hunt the animals without a license on private land, with no limits to how many can be killed. But a standard hunting license is needed to hunt them on public land, WFAA reported.

Homeowners in Irving initially came up with the idea of shooting and killing the pigs, but then realized they should not be firing a gun at the animals in a suburban neighborhood.

Advertisement

“My first thought was, like, well, I can go shoot them,” Mendez said. “But I’m like, yeah, I’m in a neighborhood. I can’t just go out there and start blasting.”

Searching for alternatives, Mendez landed on the idea of using slingshots and clapping two pieces of wood to scare off the hogs.

TEXAS TEEN ALLEGEDLY KILLED RIVAL COMPETITOR’S SHOW GOAT IN ACT OF JEALOUSY

Feral hogs cause an estimated $400 million in damage per year in Texas. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Advertisement

“I was thinking, can I do anything here?” he said.

The hogs are known to attack pets and humans if they feel threatened. They also reproduce at a rapid rate, as a single sow can birth up to two litters of six to eight piglets each year.

“I did not expect something this big to start creeping from the creek,” Mendez said.

“It’s a hassle,” he added.

Read the full article from Here

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Los Angeles, Ca

Watch Project Angel Food's 'Lead with Love' telethon on KTLA

Published

on

Watch Project Angel Food's 'Lead with Love' telethon on KTLA

The star-studded feel-good giveback event of the summer has returned. KTLA 5 is teaming up once again with Project Angel Food for the annual “Lead with Love: Going the Distance” telethon to raise critical funds for medically tailored meals delivered to people living with serious illnesses throughout Los Angeles County. The seventh annual telethon airs […]

Continue Reading

Los Angeles, Ca

Woman ambushed, violently attacked by robber in downtown Long Beach

Published

on

Woman ambushed, violently attacked by robber in downtown Long Beach

A woman was hospitalized with serious injuries after she was violently attacked by a robber in downtown Long Beach. On June 18, Jennifer Silva, 34, was attending a World Cup watch party at a Hooters restaurant at 90 Aquarium Way. After the game ended, she left the restaurant just before 11 p.m. As she walked […]

Continue Reading

Los Angeles, Ca

Jury says it is deadlocked in trial of man accused in Palisades Fire

Published

on

Jury says it is deadlocked in trial of man accused in Palisades Fire

Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.

A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.

Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.

  • A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025.
  • Palisades Fire Suspect

Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.

“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”

Advertisement

The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.

Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.

“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.

Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.

Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending