A group of feral pigs has disrupted an affluent area of San Jose, California, causing significant damage to the landscaped grounds of a local business park as they searched for food.
Video footage captured along Hellyer Drive shows the animals rooting through grassy areas and ripping up landscaping, with employees reporting that the destruction occurred over a span of just a few days. "It was all a good patch of green grass we used to enjoy in the break time, but now it’s all messy," said employee Bhawani Shankar. Another worker, Guy Clark, suggested the pigs were likely digging for insects. "And they really, really did a number here," he added.
Social media has also documented the pigs roaming the business park. On Monday, approximately a dozen pigs, including adult sows and piglets, were observed foraging in a parking lot at Power Integrations. Employees, accustomed to seeing some wildlife such as wild turkeys, described the pigs as an unusual and destructive presence.
Clark noted that this was not his first encounter with wild pigs in the vicinity, recalling an earlier sighting nearby.
Wild Pig Population Control in San Jose
Wild pigs have been a persistent issue in San Jose. In 2020, the city council approved a temporary ordinance that permitted licensed trappers to hunt the animals using bows or crossbows in an effort to manage the population. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which oversees wild pigs, indicated that reports of property damage commonly rise during this time of year as food sources become scarcer. The agency also stated that property owners have the option to hire licensed trappers if the animals become a recurring problem.
Employees at the business park hope the animals will depart soon, before further damage is inflicted upon the landscaping.
