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STONECREST, GA—Local residents have alerted city and Georgia conservation officials that packs of feral hogs are destroying residential areas and threatening safety near walking trails in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area.
Community sentinel Dave Marcus, a longtime Stonecrest resident, said in a social media post that wild boar tracks recently have been spotted off Evans Mill Road near Rock Springs and Woodrow roads. Marcus said students at nearby Arabia Mountain High School have been warned not to hang outside after dusk.
“This is a problem to take seriously. They easily can do hundreds of dollars in damage to a garden in a very brief time. They can weigh hundreds of pounds, run 30 miles an hour, and have tusks,” Marcus said in the post.
Marcus said the issue dominated discussions at a recent town hall meeting hosted by Stonecrest District 5 City Council member Karmesha Washington Smith.
An employee at Arabia Mountain High School told On Common Ground News late Tuesday, March 24, that a growing number of wild boar tracks have been spotted near the high school.
“Last year, there were maybe six sets of tracks. Now there have been as many as 20 near the school grounds. If you go out at dusk, you can see them. You don’t want to do that,” the school worker said.
Officials in neighboring Rockdale County have been alerted about the problem. Conservationist George Kelecheck, who lives in Rockdale, sent an urgent email to the Georgia Association of Conservation District’s Feral Hog Program Manager Marc Land seeking help.
Land acknowledged in an email thread to Kelecheck and other Rockdale County officials the feral hog problem is a serious one.
“These animals are a serious issue in Georgia & are traveling into Urban Areas,” Land stated, adding that the Rockdale Soil and Water Conservation District receive monthly updates regarding the number of wild hogs that are trapped.
Land also said the Georgia Association Conservation District and Department of Natural Resources continue to monitor and address this issue.
Feral hogs are highly adaptable, invasive mammals known for destructive rooting behavior, high reproductive rates and feed on roots, plants crops, insects, small animals and eggs. They have sharp tusks and can weigh hundreds of pounds. They are mostly nocturnal animals that thrive in many habitats, according to Wikipedia, AI and other sources.
On Common Ground News is seeking more information and a status update from Stonecrest Councilwoman Smith. Story developing.
Image via Dave Marcus
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