Night after night in a World Golf Village neighborhood in St. Augustine, feral hogs are turning manicured yards into something that looks more like a freshly plowed field than a suburban lawn. Neighbors say a sounder of wild pigs, including two adults and roughly a dozen piglets, has been making regular overnight visits, ripping up turf and even going after bird feeders. Trail cameras and cellphone video have captured the hog family rooting through backyards, and residents say the damage adds up fast.
The situation has gotten so bad that the homeowners’ association signed off on hiring professional trappers. Nicole Doucette and Michael Sheppard, who work for Quick Catch, were called in to deal with the animals, according to Action News Jax. Doucette told the station the hogs are “incredibly invasive” and said trail cameras had picked up a family group that the crew is now targeting. The trappers haul in heavy metal corral traps with 150-pound doors, bait them with deer corn, and say meat from any hogs they capture will be donated to local charities.
Why Wild Hogs Wreck Lawns So Quickly
Wild hogs use their broad, powerful snouts to root through soil in search of food, which can leave a yard looking like it has been tilled overnight, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The FWC notes that wild hogs are not native to Florida and may have first been brought to the state by Spanish explorers, a history that helps explain how feral swine are now firmly established in both suburban and rural areas. Trapping methods like corral traps and pre-baiting are described as common and effective tools for professionals in guidance from UF/IFAS Extension.
HOA, Neighbors And The Plan
Neighbors told Action News Jax that at a recent homeowners’ association meeting, the board voted to bring in professional trappers after repeated nighttime visits from the hogs. Resident Dave Field said he is frustrated by the constant activity tearing up the neighborhood, while his wife, Charlene Field, struck a slightly more philosophical tone, saying, “We love living here. Wild boars and all.” The station reported that the HOA did not return its calls for comment.
Meat Donation And Health Concerns
The trapping team told the station they plan to donate captured hog meat to charities and shelters, but wildlife health officials caution that feral swine can carry serious diseases. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warns that wild hogs may transmit illnesses such as swine brucellosis and pseudorabies. The agency recommends wearing gloves, avoiding bare-skin contact with raw meat, and thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting knives, cutting boards, and any surfaces that come into contact with carcasses. Residents are also advised to keep pets away from carcasses and to avoid feeding raw wild hog meat to dogs.
Neighbors are being urged to do their part to make the area less attractive to the pigs by taking down bird feeders, securing trash, and closing up gaps under low fencing where possible. Residents are also encouraged to report hog sightings to their HOA or to a licensed nuisance trapper. Quick Catch lists removal services and a local contact number for North Florida for situations where hog problems persist. Authorities emphasize that residents should not attempt to confront or trap wild hogs themselves, since these animals can be dangerous and are best left to professionals.
