Fort Worth Proactively Capturing Feral Hogs

As we get into the cooler months of the year that means you'll have a greater chance of seeing feral hogs across North Texas.

But no matter the weather, Fort Worth Code Compliance Animal Care & Control wildlife officers are hard at work trying to stop them before they become a real nuisance in neighborhoods.

"It's a year round battle," said Barry Alexander, code compliance supervisor.

The front line in that battle can be found on the Fort Worth, Arlington border not far from River Legacy Park. It's where Fort Worth wildlife officers have set up a large trap hoping to catch feral hogs as they migrate near the river and before they ever reach someone's yard.

"The goal is to catch them before they come into the neighborhoods and do significant damage like they did," Alexander said.

Four years ago, the wild boars tore up yards in the Riverbend Estates neighborhood, but there's a good reason why they haven't been heard from lately.

"We've probably trapped around 400, so we've made a pretty significant dent," Alexander said.

The city hired two wildlife officers dedicated to the feral hog problem and other urban wildlife. The officers visit traps like the one near the park almost daily. They lure in the hogs with feed and loose dirt that they like to roll around in. Officers use game cameras to see how many are using the corrals before setting up a trip wire to capture as many as they can at once.

"We're trying to catch them while they're migrating through the area," Alexander said.

Traps are also set up closer to neighborhoods too, especially if residents spot hogs. But there hasn't been much need to trap in neighborhoods lately because of the proactive approach.

Last fall a single hog was tearing up yards in The Bluffs neighborhood at Heritage Trace Parkway and North Beach Street. The hogs can cause thousands in yard damage.

"They're just a pretty destructive animal," Alexander said.

While cooler months are when the hogs appear most, two were caught in August and seven back in July. That's proof the hunt for hogs never ends, despite the success of so many hogs already captured.

"I think we've saved a lot of property a lot of damage," Alexander said.

Feral hogs can have litters of six to as many as 13 every three and a half months. Once the feral hogs are captured they're then humanely euthanized.

To report feral hogs or any animal problem, call the code hotline at 817-392-1234.