HOUSTON — A man who fended off a wild hog attack says he's concerned about the growing issue in his southeast Houston neighborhood.
Carl White is a longtime resident of the Garden Villas subdivision near Sims Bayou. White and his neighbors believe access to the bayou allows wild hogs to roam through the area causing havoc.
With their sharp tusks and aggressive attitude, feral hogs can be dangerous. White said they've killed pets, confronted people and damaged property in his neighborhood.
White experienced the issue firsthand earlier this month when he was working in his garage late one night. His dog, Moose, started barking and came to White's side. That's when White, who is confined to a wheelchair, knew there was approaching danger.
"I was sitting over in this spot and he was coming full speed, looking right at me and fixing to mow me down," White told KHOU 11.
He had only an airsoft gun to defend himself and the LED light on top of it scared the hog.
"But when I hit that light, it startled him and he turned a 180 right there, so close that I could smell him," White said.
When the animal turned around again, White fired pellets at it and that finally did the trick.
He's grateful his dog warned him in time to grab the gun. Now, he plans to take extra precautions and encourages other neighbors to do the same.
"Just don't get yourself in a position where you're confronting or cornering them, because that's when they really get nervous and come at you," White said. "But let them have an escape if they want to run away."
He and other neighbors said they've contacted authorities.
KHOU 11 has reported on other instances of wild hogs in the Houston area, including Cinco Ranch, Sienna and Galveston. State officials say the issue has become a growing concern in urban areas and researchers say Texas has the worst feral hog problem in the country.