Feral hog sightings are becoming more common in St. Mary Parish.
Robert Darce, who hunts wild hogs in the parish, says it's often you will see them along several parts of Highway 90, including in front of the truck stops between Bayou Vista and Berwick.
"They're everywhere south. You have thousands of acres of lands that can only be hunted so much, can only be trapped so much." Darce continues, "Pigs populate so fast; you can't do anything."
Drivers are urged to stay cautious of the hogs, and pedestrians, if faced with a hog, are instructed not to run. Experts say to be calm and move slowly away from it.
"Just get off the ground. Climb on top of a car. Get on something because they can't jump," said Darce.
According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, you always need a license to hunt pigs regardless of the time of year.
Pigs can be hunted on public property and agents say there are designated areas set up for public hunts.
If you are killing hogs on private property that you don't own, you have to have written consent from the property owner to take the hogs.
"When they start moving in the neighborhoods, that concerns me more than any other animal [even the] large carnivores that we have," explained Darce.
He thinks one of the major causes of the hogs in the area is the landfill that is located nearby.
Darce hopes parish and state officials can develop a plan to eradicate the problem.
"Something has to be done. Get the hunters together. Get people together," said Darce. "Let them go out and shoot something."
If you would like to obtain a hunting license, call 1-225-763-8584.
More information can be found on the LDWF website.
