Farmers worry drought may increase wild pig problems

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Local growers and Ag officials worry the drought may increase the problem of wild pigs causing damage on farms.

The recent breach of the Alta Sierra irrigation canal off Highway 180 near Frankwood Avenue was blamed on damage caused by wild pigs. The damage has been fixed but concerns remain especially with hundreds of wild pigs with sharp tusks running around in areas like Dunlap, Tivy Mountain and Squaw Valley.

Citrus grower Nick Hill explained, "When things start drying up they have a tendency to come into the orchards looking for something to eat; rotten fruit on the ground."

Hill has always dealt with wild pigs coming down from the foothills and into his orchard along Highway 180.

He said, "They're a force to be reckoned with. They'll come and go when they're looking for food. The mountains are full of them."

Fresno County Deputy Ag Commissioner Fred Rinder works to try to control wild pigs. He said, "It's not your little pink pig from the Fresno Fair. These are big bad boys."

The Fresno County Ag Department sometimes sets traps because growers reported a problem. Some of the wild boars are over 300 pounds and root right through orchards.

Hill said, "They can cause a fair amount of damage with irrigation systems, tearing up the rows."

The flooded orchard and drip line damage is especially costly during a drought when water is so scarce.

Hill normally noticed pig damage during the fall so the recent levee breach worried him. "When they had that problem with the canal down the road that may be a sign they're going to come down."

Growers can't just hunt wild pigs on their property. They must first apply for a depredation permit with the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The county will also help set traps in problem areas.

Nick Hill called it a worsening problem.

Sows can give birth to a new litter after just a three-month gestation period.