A&E is set to launch the premiere of American Hoggers tonight. It’s a real life drama that centers around the Campbell family of Texas as they take on the imposing threat of feral hogs. Jerry, his daughter Krystal and his son Jason get paid well to hunt down these wild boars but why are they so dangerous and why would folks drop serious bank to relieve themselves of the threat?
Thanks to the folks with A&E they’ve supplied a great infographic on feral hogs and why they’re such a danger to the good citizens of the Lone Star State. You can click on the graphic for an enlarged view. I’ll follow up with a summary of some of the facts about these beasts that can get up to 400lbs and are known to eat their own young.
♦ Can reach a shoulder height of 36 inches and a weight of 100-400lbs
♦ Creatures of the night that roam in packs and eat almost anything, including their young.
♦ Can double in population size in 4 months. This growth rate outpaces every other large mammal in the U.S.
♦ Razor sharp tusks and can reach land speeds of 30mph.
♦ Can disrupt local habitats, prey on local wildlife and spread diseases like tuberculosis.
♦ Over 6 million in the U.S. with half of these concentrated in Texas.
♦ In Texas they annually cause an estimated $500 million in damages.
In summary we have very large, fast, young devouring, razor sharp tusk wielding, pack roaming, damage causing beasts. The threat these wild boars impose on the folks of Texas are as good a reason as any to put my girl Krystal “Pistol” Campbell on TV! I mean that with all respect due a southern lady of course Mr. Campbell, sir. Please put the gun down Jerry 🙂
To find out more about the Campbells and their prey I encourage you to visit the show’s highly informative web site here.
Images: A&E
