With a reported 1.6 million acres burned, and more burning every minute, the impact of wildfires on property and human lives is not the only concern.
Nuisance wildlife, such as the troublesome feral hog or coyotes, are being pushed out of their natural habitats and into new territory by the swath of wildfires pushing through parts of North Texas.
On Monday, the Red Cross said they were warned about feral hogs possibly becoming a problem for volunteers as the pesky porcines moved to new locations in search of food and shelter that was burned or covered in ash.
Feral hogs, which feed at night, look for grub worms, pecans, acorns and roots, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife, which, in neighborhoods, often leads to torn up lawns and flower beds.
While some may not mind the meddlesome hogs perishing in the inferno on the Texas plains, if only to spare their own lawns and bank accounts, others might welcome a hog or two into the neighborhood so that it may mysteriously disappear from the pack before reappearing on a backyard barbeque spit.
Alas, you should be warned -- it is illegal to shoot hogs in some cities (Fort Worth included), so check your local ordinances before hunting in your back yard.
So, what should you do if you find your property overrun with nuisance wildlife? In Fort Worth, don't call animal control as they don't handle feral hogs and they'll only refer you to the police. In other outlying areas, check with local ordinances on how to handle nuisance wildlife before they become a problem so that you'll know what to do should they arrive.
