Feral hogs leave wake of devastation throughout parts of Texas

Texas’ feral hogs can be rabid predators, and they are carving paths of destruction across much of the state. Central Texas is not immune. With an estimated population of 3 to 4 million in Texas, feral hogs mow down crops and kill deer fawns and goat kids. They are even known to attack people. “Feral hogs are a problem in just about every county in the state,” said Texas Farm Bureau spokesman Gene Hall. “Those things can do more damage than a bulldozer.” Jan Loven, district supervisor of U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, told Texas A&M University’s Robert Burns, “They’re utter destruction is what they are.” Oglesby farmer Neil Walter knows well the destruction feral hogs can cause. Walter said he lost about 5 percent of his corn crop to feral hogs this year, despite taking measures to try to protect against them. “We hunt them, and we also trap them,” Walter said. “But that’s just like swatting flies with a fly swatter. We’ll never get ahead of them.”...WacoTribune