VIDEO: Willliamson County Sheriff's deputy lassos feral hog out of apartment complex
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas - They don't teach you this in the academy.
Video of a Williamson County Sheriff's deputy lassoing a feral hog at an apartment has gone viral. As their 2.6 million population in Texas continues to grow quickly, sightings of hogs in neighborhoods are becoming more common.
“They wreak havoc on your lawn, they can spread disease into water supplies, and they are basically a huge nuisance,” said Shelley Franklin, a Texas A&M AgriLife extension agent in Williamson County.
Franklin said they constantly deal with feral hogs and the damage they leave behind across the county.
RELATED: Texas deputy uses lasso to capture feral hog in apartment complex
“Right now there really aren't ways to make the problem go away. We're just putting a bandage on a problem that will continue to be around,” said Franklin.
Williamson County isn't the only area dealing with this invasive pest, it's a problem statewide. Just this past year we've seen them tear through a northeast Austin neighborhood looking for food. Jonestown also had a costly visit from the hogs.
RELATED: Jonestown family says feral hogs are terrorizing their yard
“Where there is water and cover available they'll make their home. They come out at night so you may never see the pigs because you're sleeping while they are wreaking havoc,” said Franklin.
When it comes to dealing with the hogs, Franklin recommends you leave the lassoing to the professionals.
“What we do is recommend is putting up fences to prevent them from coming in or if you do see them, trapping them yourself or finding a professional that can help you with that,” said Franklin.
RELATED: Video captures feral hogs rummaging through northeast Austin neighborhood
As they reproduce more quickly than they are removed, their population is growing across the state and on average they cause $52 million in damage a year. The problem is so big, governor Abbott recently signed a bill where you no longer need a license to hunt them.
“You need to check your local laws before you go out and hunt these pigs but it is open season for all the wild pigs,” said Franklin.
RELATED: Caretaker attacked and killed by wild hogs in Anahuac
As for the hog in this video, the deputy saved his bacon. According to Sheriff Chody, it was released unharmed in an unpopulated area.
If your area is dealing with feral hogs, Franklin recommends calling your local county AgriLife Extension office. They offer classes as well as resources to help remove them.