Feral pigs are growing problem in Florida and at least 35 states in the USA. Like many communities throughout those states, ours has experienced an influx of the wild hogs in parts of some neighborhoods. They can cause severe damage to lawns by rutting them up, and can be dangerous if people foolishly interact with them. Preventing them from accessing property or getting rid of them is difficult.
Below are links to articles about the problem, photos, and a statement from our association treasurer concerning our area.
Tampa Bay Times Article : Pushed From Their Habitat, Hogs Meet Up With People (PDF)
Wild Hogs in Florida – Newsweek Article
Wild Hogs in Florida from the University of Florida
Wild Hog from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Feral Pigs Are Ruining Ecosystems across 35 States – Popular Science
Clock Is Ticking on America’s Feral Swine Bomb – The Atlantic
WEDGEWOOD OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC.
Memorandum Concerning Feral Pigs from Wedgewood’s Environmental Parcel.
For at leas the past five years, Wedgewood and Westlake Greens homeowners have been visited by feral pigs. These pigs are believed to have come originally from the Florida State environmental and recreational acreage (630 Acres, almost a square mile) located to the south of Sun City Center and west of U.S. Highway 301. Pigs may also have come from the Little Manatee River State Park.
In addition to providing entertainment, these pigs can cause considerable property damage by rutting lawns in search of roots and grubs. They can also be very dangerous if they are protecting their young or if they feel that they are cornered, not to mention the risk of sprained muscles or broken bones while walking across rutted surfaces.
During 2022, the pig presence appears to be more severe, probably at least partly due to the County permitting a large housing development to the east of US-301 and north of Saffold Road, to the south of Sun City Center. This new development can only have destroyed the habitat of and dislocated feral hogs from the new housing tract onto the State’s lands to the west of US-301. From there, Wedgewood is one mile away up Cypress Creek.
Several homeowners have written letters to County, State, and National politicians with disappointing results.
Other letters to Tampa television stations met with results, and news programs from several stations have broadcast videos from and interviews of residents of the Westlake Greens and Wedgewood Owners’ Associations. Recordings of these news broadcasts are attached hereto.
Digital recordings of pigs feeding beneath the mango tree located behind 2027 Berry Roberts Drive in the Wedgewood Owners’ Association, Inc. may be found on the Feral Pigs page.
As a result of these broadcasts, we have met several local hunters and trappers who are willing to help Wedgewood and Westlake Greens control the damage caused by these pigs, mostly at a no cost basis.
From speaking with Bob Sullivan, the Sun City Center Community Association (CA) President, we have learned unofficially that the CA has received calls from many other HOA Presidents reporting the presence of feral hogs in their areas.
Feral pigs have been an issue in southern Hillsborough County for years. I had a friend and coworker whose Jeep SUV was totaled on Shell Point Road west of Ruskin during 1995 when she hit a large boar. At the time, Shell Point Road had not been continued to 30th Street, and the schools and housing north of Shell Point Road were still undeveloped forest.
An article in Newsweek refers to a 2019 interview of an East Del Webb Blvd. resident concerning similar pig issues. This was about the time that the new Wimauma Walmart was being built. The old store was located where Bealls is found today.
Sincerely,
Peter K. Pullen, Treasurer