‘Boar Buster’ will be available in Cass County

It’s no secret that feral hogs pose a huge problem. It is estimated that the feral hog population of the United States is somewhere between four to five million. Of that population an estimated 2.6 million live in Texas. Indeed, feral hogs can be found in 99% of counties in Texas. They currently cause around $52 million worth of damages to agricultural enterprises each year in the state and are causing increasing amounts of damage to landscapes in suburban and urban areas. With this rise of feral pigs in suburban and urban areas, we have also seen an increasing number of attacks on people as well, although still rare.

Legal routs to population control include trapping, shooting, and the use of trained dogs. And with feral hog populations growing and their threat to land due to their destructive feeding habits and potential for spreading disease, those affected most are constantly looking for ways to deal with this menace.

This month Texas A&M Agrilife Extension has announced that they have been awarded a grant to help deal with the feral hog population in Cass County. They will use the grant to purchase a “Boar Buster” trap. The trap is research-based system using cutting-edge technology to help manage the exploding hog population. The trap boasts set up in thirty minutes, live video, motion sensor alerts, and is suspended to allow hogs to enter from any direction.

For those interested in using this trap you must complete a required damage assessment and attend an informational program on January 16th, 2020 at 6 pm at the Law Enforcement Training Center in Linden. There will also be a small fee to use the trap. The fees collected from use of the trap will go to fund a bounty program later in 2020. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Agrilife Extension at 903-756-5391 or their office at 227 Rusk St. in Linden.