Damge of field in GSMNP by wild pigs
Residents of Rosedale drive in Elizabeth City NC have seen damage to their properties like a gang of hooligans went through with rotor tillers to their gardens and landscape. It seems they have a feral hog problem and given the rapid rate at which hogs reproduce this could be a huge problem. While residents in states like Texas and Florida have been dealing with issues from feral hogs for a while here in North Carolina it is still a sporadic occurrence.
It’s the second time feral hogs have rooted through an Elizabeth City neighborhood in five months, despite police shooting and killing nine of them last fall. They disappeared until last week, when large hogs were seen boldly walking around outbuildings and on Rosedale Drive.
Feral hogs have been around for years but have avoided roaming within city limits. The neighborhood abuts a swamp that runs along the Pasquotank River on the north side of Elizabeth City near the Albemarle Hospital.
Wildlife officials believe the feral hogs have come in from the rural areas of Camden County on the other side of the river. Feral hogs are excellent swimmers.
“They’ve populated in a bunch of counties across the state,” said Lt. Norman Watts, an enforcement officer for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. “I don’t think we’re going to get rid of them, but we can keep them down.”
Feral hogs are prolific, typically breeding twice a year having anywhere from two to 12 piglets, according to an online report by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Hardly a month goes by where I don’t run into someone or someone email’s me asking about feral hog hunting opportunities but here in North Carolina there certainly is more of a demand then there is supply. I suspect in a few years that may change. While I’d like the opportunity to hunt hogs I’m sure dreading the day they get on to the lands I hunt. They are some of the most destructive critter you’ll ever encounter and except for man there is not much else that is going to take one down never mind control them.
With that said it appears that residents in this community appear ready to allow some bow hunters come in and help knock the population off a bit. So if you are in that area it might be worth some effort to get permission to hunt.
