Feral Hog Problem Getting Bigger in East Texas

TYLER — Experts say the problem of feral hogs in East Texas is just getting worse. According to KETK, there are a few concerns with officials. One is that even after the rain, some of the water sources are drying up. That’s forcing feral hogs to look for new water sources, pushing some of them from the forest into neighborhoods. Another big problem is the population boom. East Texas has one of the highest feral hog populations in the state. Authorities say despite loosened hunting regulations, trapping and hunting are not working as well as they’d like, and agricultural damage is in the multi-millions.

Additionally, feral hogs can carry such diseases as bubonic plague, foot and mouth disease, and anthrax. That’s a key reason officials warn you not to approach them. Some reports say they can even harm or kill your pets if they feel threatened. You can contact your local game warden for more information on how to deal with the animals.