LEE COUNTY, Texas — There's a hog problem in Lee County.
Officials say the feral hogs are going around causing issues for farms and ranches, and that they can even be dangerous to drivers.
Judge Frank Malinak said the county is dealing with the problem in the small towns of Giddings and Lexington.
"Invariably, when you sit down with a group of farmers and ranchers in the morning for coffee ... The topic of wild hogs comes up," Malinak said. "You're going to have farmers and ranchers complain about the damage they've done."
The feral hogs are invasive. Malinak said they can attack baby calves and get into crops, including corn and hay fields. Farmers say they're doing their best to put up fencing.
According to Malinak, property owners have the right to defend their property without a hunting license and shoot the hogs. Lee County even has a bounty program to try and reduce the feral hog population.
"Bring the ears in just so we know the wild hog has been eliminated," Malinak said. "We pay bounty for each one those hogs brought in."
The county offers $10 for each hog that's been eliminated. They budget $10,000 each year for bounties, but say they've already reached the limit this year. If you don't own land and want to hunt feral hogs, you will need a license.
Kasen Schnell is a hunter in Giddings who has shot several hogs this year.
"Eliminate the population and try to control them," Schnell said. "They are everywhere they are out of control."
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, these feral hogs can cause about $52 million in property damage in the state alone. Malinak said they can also be very dangerous on the roadways.
"A friend of mine was actually killed on a motorcycle when his vehicle hit a herd of wild hogs," Malinak said.
Lee County officials said they will continue to try to do what they can to reduce the population of these feral hogs and protect farmer's land.