Groups of feral hogs are showing up in several Texas neighborhoods, leading shocked residents to ask city officials for help.
Jamie Calberg, who lives near Salado Creek in the San Antonio area, told KENS 5 he recently started seeing feral hogs near his home for the first time in decades. Thanks to a Ring camera, he was even able to capture footage of a wild hog and its babies roaming his yard in search of food.
"I've lived here for 30 years and never seen hogs before, until they started building hundreds of homes five or six miles downstream from here," he told the network.
Texas is home to more than three million wild pigs, which cause an estimated $670 million in agricultural damage annually, according to the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute.
Sightings are on the rise in other areas, too.
Mesquite resident Ted Faulkner told CBS Texas he’s been dealing with feral hogs in his yard for nearly two decades, but in recent months, he’s seen them more often and in groups of up to 10.
"I've warned people in the neighborhood: 'Do not walk out here after dark because you might encounter the hogs, they become frightened, and they might attack.' That's the biggest concern is public safety," Faulkner told the outlet.
"I've talked with the animal control and with the city manager's office. I made three different reports. The assistant city manager is saying they have contacted Texas Parks and Wildlife to see if they can get some assistance, because Mesquite doesn't have the capability to trap these hogs," he added.
Grady Chandler, another Mesquite resident, told WFAA his yard was recently destroyed by feral hogs: “Thousands of dollars of grass. And yes, it’s going to be expensive.”
Maria Martinez, a neighborhood service director for the City of Mesquite, said it’s “not an easy process” to manage the feral hog population, and that the city is working with Texas Parks and Wildlife to address the issue, according to WFAA.
“These are pretty smart animals,” Martinez added.
The increase in hog sightings can partially be attributed to growing development in northern Texas. Hogs are being pushed out of their natural habitats, which means they’re showing up in residential areas more, WFAA reports.
The population is also growing because feral pigs reproduce quickly, and have a flexible diet, which means they can adapt to different environments easily, according to the Chron.
The Independent has contacted the City of Mesquite, the City of San Antonio and Texas Parks and Wildlife for comment.
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