Mesquite Residents Demand Action as Feral Hog Sightings, Damage Increase

Neighborhood reports frequent nighttime encounters and thousands in property destruction from roaming packs of wild boars.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:50am

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeated pattern of a single feral hog, conceptually representing the growing problem of these invasive animals in urban Texas communities.Feral hogs have become an increasingly common sight in Mesquite neighborhoods, posing risks to public safety and causing significant property damage.Mesquite Today

Residents in Mesquite, Texas are calling on the city to address a growing problem with feral hogs that have been increasingly spotted in their neighborhood, causing thousands of dollars in property damage and raising public safety concerns. Local homeowner Ted Faulkner has repeatedly reported the issue to the city, sharing videos of large packs of hogs roaming the streets at night, but says the city has been unable to effectively trap or remove the animals.

Why it matters

Feral hogs are an invasive species that have become a major nuisance across many parts of Texas, causing extensive agricultural and property damage as well as posing risks to human safety, especially in suburban and urban areas as their populations continue to expand. Mesquite's situation highlights the challenges cities face in managing this problem and the need for coordinated efforts between local governments and state wildlife agencies.

The details

Faulkner, who has lived in the Falcons Lair neighborhood for 17 years, says the hogs have been an issue the entire time but have become more frequent and destructive in recent months. He has shared videos with local media showing packs of up to 10 hogs roaming through the neighborhood at night, and says the damage they've caused to his and his neighbors' properties could cost thousands of dollars to repair. Faulkner has repeatedly contacted the city's animal control and management offices, but says they lack the resources to effectively trap or remove the hogs, and have only been able to suggest contacting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for assistance.

  • Faulkner has dealt with feral hogs in his neighborhood for the 17 years he has lived there.
  • The hogs have become more frequent and destructive in the last six weeks.
  • Faulkner first encountered the hogs within the first two months of moving in, causing him to change his flowerbed to a rock garden.

The players

Ted Faulkner

A 17-year resident of the Falcons Lair neighborhood in Mesquite, Texas who has repeatedly reported the issue of feral hogs in his area to the city.

Mesquite Animal Services

The city department responsible for addressing animal-related issues, which has acknowledged it lacks the resources to effectively trap or remove the feral hogs.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

The state agency that Mesquite has contacted for assistance in managing the feral hog problem, as the city does not have the capability to handle it on its own.

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What they’re saying

“I've warned people in the neighborhood, 'do not walk out here after dark because you might encounter the hogs, they become frightened, and they might attack.' That's the biggest concern is public safety.”

— Ted Faulkner, Mesquite Resident

“They could probably get a part-time job working for an excavation company... We're talking about several thousand dollars of damage.”

— Ted Faulkner, Mesquite Resident

What’s next

The city of Mesquite says it has contacted the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to seek assistance in managing the feral hog problem, as the city's own animal services department lacks the resources to effectively trap or remove the animals.

The takeaway

Feral hogs have become a growing nuisance across many Texas communities, causing extensive property damage and posing public safety risks, especially in suburban areas. Mesquite's struggle to address this issue highlights the need for greater coordination between local governments and state wildlife agencies to develop comprehensive strategies for managing invasive hog populations.