In Mesquite's Falcons Lair neighborhood, late-night yard work has taken a feral turn. Residents say packs of wild hogs have been barreling through lawns after dark, tearing up flowerbeds and turf and leaving neighbors on edge. Homeowner Ted Faulkner told local reporters he has repeatedly seen groups of six to 10 hogs in the area and fears it is only a matter of time before someone gets hurt. The surge in activity has neighbors calling for the city to step in, even as animal services says it does not have the gear needed to trap the animals.
Videos and complaints from neighbors
Videos shared with local outlets show the hogs sprinting across front yards at night and rooting through landscaping, according to CBS News Texas. Faulkner told the station he has filed multiple reports with the city and estimated that repeated hog visits have caused "several thousand dollars" in damage. The Dallas Express also reported on the situation and noted that neighbors are increasingly demanding action from city leaders.
What the city says
Mesquite Animal Services is urging residents to report sightings through the myMesquite portal or by calling Animal Services directly. At the same time, the agency makes it clear that staff "is unable to trap or remove feral hogs" and can only pass information about problem areas to state wildlife officials when needed, according to the City of Mesquite. The city lists basic safety tips: keep pets confined, steer clear of dense undergrowth and call 911 if an animal poses an immediate threat. Officials say logging reports helps them track where hogs are moving, even if the city itself lacks trapping capability.
Why they're showing up in neighborhoods
Wild pigs are an invasive, fast-breeding species that thrive wherever food, water and cover overlap, so growing suburbs often end up sharing space with them. As development spreads, the edges of their habitat creep closer to fences and back patios. Texas A&M AgriLife's recent guidance notes that agricultural losses from feral-pig activity reached roughly $670 million in 2024 and warns that metropolitan growth makes long-term control especially tough. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department points to rooting and wallowing as the behaviors that cause the bulk of landscape and habitat damage and cautions that hogs can be dangerous if cornered.
Not just Mesquite
Falcons Lair is not the only place dealing with unwelcome nighttime visitors. Similar hog encounters have been reported across North Texas in recent months, including at an apartment complex in Coppell where managers brought in a private wildlife company to set traps, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. The Dallas Morning News has also documented similar sightings around the region, underscoring that this is a broader North Texas problem, not just a Mesquite nuisance.
What residents can do
Officials and wildlife experts say one thing clearly: do not try to confront or corner the hogs. Instead, they recommend documenting sightings from a safe distance, securing pets and cutting down on anything that might draw the animals in. The City of Mesquite and state partners suggest treating lawns for grubs, a favorite hog snack, installing motion-activated lights or sprinklers and hiring licensed nuisance-wildlife professionals rather than attempting do-it-yourself traps. Residents are urged to report any hog activity through myMesquite or by calling Mesquite Animal Services at 972-216-6283 so officials can map hotspots and coordinate with state agencies.
Neighbors push for a long-term fix
Faulkner told CBS News Texas he has floated at least one idea: fencing off the wooded strip he believes the hogs are using for cover. For now, though, many of his neighbors are stuck with short-term workarounds such as rock gardens and beefed-up fences. With no quick municipal solution on the table, Mesquite residents say they plan to keep recording sightings and pressing city leaders for a coordinated strategy before the next breeding season sends another round of hogs into their yards.
