Wild pigs have become so numerous and destructive to natural resources, agricultural crops, and private property, that hunting regulations have been relaxed in recent years.

What You Can Do

1. You may take a wild pig anytime you encounter a pig(s) damaging or threatening to damage your property. The person killing the wild pig(s) must report taking the pig(s) to the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) no later than the next working day. Under legislation passed on January 1, 1998, people taking wild pigs that are causing or threatening to cause property damage are not required to have a hunting license or wild pig tag. However, this law DOES NOT EXEMPT anyone from local firearm restrictions, such as discharging a firearm within a specified distance from a public road. BE AWARE. It is illegal to use firearms, pellet guns, BB guns and slingshots in any city, or unincorporated residential area of Santa Clara County. One may use a gun in a non-residential, unincorporated area with permission from the sheriff.
2. Invite a licensed hunter(s) onto your property under DFG regulations to take the pig(s).
3. Call Vector Control to come out and assess. If they trap an animal, they will dispose of it.
4. Call your County Agricultural Commissioner
5. Call the California Department of Fish and Game
6. Call the local USDA Wildlife Services staff or County Trapper
7. Fencing.
8. Electric fencing.

What You Can’t Do

1. Receiving compensation for a wild pig carcass given to a charitable organization, a needy family, a ranch employee is prohibited. A landowner may use a pig carcass.
2. Trapping is not recommended because of the difficulty of disposing of the live animal, which may not be released in another location.

Resources

• Wild Pig Wildlife of Henry W. Coe State Park
• Wild Pigs (PDF) Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California, Berkeley