Feral hogs move into Beaumont golf course, cemetery

Feral hogs are as adaptable and prolific as they are destructive. Wildlife managers estimate it would take annually removing two-thirds of the pig population, estimated to be 2.6 million swine, to stabilize the population. Houston Chronicle photo by Shannon Tompkins less Feral hogs are as adaptable and prolific as they are destructive. Wildlife managers estimate it would take annually removing two-thirds of the pig population, estimated to be 2.6 million swine, to stabilize the ... more Photo: Shannon Tompkins Photo: Shannon Tompkins Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Feral hogs move into Beaumont golf course, cemetery 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Feral hogs are making inroads to city areas- including a Beaumont golf course - despite a statewide aerial hunting program that bagged 743 hogs in Jefferson County last year.

The swine targeted the greens at the Tyrrell Park golf course last month, rutting up the grass to the annoyance of golfers. After the city put out traps, the adaptive hogs "moved on," said city spokeswoman Danielle Underferth.

Forest Lawn Memorial Park on Pine Street also has been battling the interlopers, said spokeswoman Jessica McDunn.

The cemetery requested and received help from Texas Wildlife Services, which is helping "trap the animals," McDunn said. Additional fences have also been built to keep the animals at bay, she said.

Texas Wildlife Services, a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas Agrilife Extension Agency, has been mounting the aerial battle for close to two years now.

With two planes and two helicopters, the agency is limited in what it can accomplish in 252 counties through its aerial program, but trappers and hunters on the ground help raise the body count, said district supervisor Gary McEwen.

Statewide, including both aerial and ground efforts, the service is responsible for thinning Texas's hog population (estimated at 2.6 million) by 19,000 in 2012 and by 25,000 in 2011. More hogs were actually killed, but the animals' rapid breeding offsets some of the reduction.

The aerial program last year in Jefferson County killed 743 hogs, close to twice the 2011 total of 419, McEwen said.

The increase is likely due to more ranchers, farmers and others requesting their service, which is voluntary and entered into by agreement with property owners.