A Woman Killed By A Feral Hog in Texas

Feral hogs have attacked and killed a woman in Chambers County, TX.

The death of Christine Rollins, 59, of Anahuac, TX has officially been ruled caused by feral hogs.

Rollins was killed outside of a home on Highway 61 near Anahuac where she was a caretaker for an elderly couple.

The most important thing here is that someone lost their life. Family and friends will grieve the unthinkable loss of their loved one to something so horrible a few could imagine.

As feral hog populations soar in Texas and spread into new territory all around the nation, more attacks will happen.

Some basic information you need to know about hogs. 

*Hogs are dangerous. They can attack and kill. Never approach them.

*Never approach even cute piglets. Baby feral hogs are adorable but their mothers (sows) will go to any length to protect them. The sow may be out of the line of sight if you see tiny pigs but she is nearby and will respond.

*Do not feed hogs. Unless hogs are being baited in a wild location in preparation for hunting them, do not feed them. Never feed around houses or in parks. In areas like urban centers where hogs are never hunted, they can seem tame. Do not make them accustomed to seeing people as a food source. Additionally, do not throw scraps outside. That can also attract hogs.

*Be especially mindful of large, solitary boars. If you see such an animal on a hiking trail, for example, give it wide berth and report to officials. That animal certainly needs to be targeted for removal and elimination.

*Shoot big boars. Many hunters don’t like killing big boars due to smell and taste of meat but statistics show most fatal attacks (nearly 90 percent) are large lone boars. Kill these hogs with no hesitation.

*Shoot sows first. If you have a group of hogs coming in with the typical size structure of hogs 150 pounds and below, shoot sows, then boars. The more sows we take out the fewer hogs areas will produce.

*Trap. Trap. Trap. If you have a deer lease, pool resources with other lease members and get hog traps going. Mature hogs will become trap shy but you will catch younger hogs along with others. Keep the pressure on year-round. No mercy.

*Turn in hog traffickers. If you know of people releasing feral hogs into open range for hunting purposes turn them in. It’s illegal. Very few people do this any more but this is the key reason hog numbers have spread so far. A handful of hunters have released them into different areas

I have seen feral hogs while hunting at the famous Christmas Place Plantation & Hunting Club on the edge of the MS Delta while deer hunting. I shot two hogs 3 years ago, a sow weighing 180 lbs. and a smaller one running.  It was about 12 out in an opened field.  Another time while hunting, I decided to walk to the road and wait to be picked up by a hunter and was so close I could hear them in a bush.  After that happened, I just stay in my stand and wait for hunters to come and pick me up.  It was a frightening experience and lucky I wasn't attacked.