Menacing Pig Continues to Attack Texas Family in Hill Country

Like a scene from a horror movie, a family in Kingsland, Texas has been forced to defend themselves from – a pig! The animal was described as a ‘very large pig’ and the family was so distressed that they had to call 911. The news reports describe it as weighing around 300 pounds and foaming at the mouth! Kingsland resident Wendy Goldstein recounts how the pig attacked both her daughter and her disabled parents.

Unfortunately, the situation escalated into a neighborhood conflict. The owner of the animal arrived threatening to shoot the family if they harmed his pig. The next day, it was back and Wendy tried to arm herself with a hammer and a knife. Local animal control authorities attempted to catch the pig but it escaped. Shortly afterward, there was a third attack but later the Llano County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the animal had been returned to its owner who had secured its enclosure.

How Dangerous Are Pigs?

Domestic pigs are large animals and therefore have the potential to injure a human. They were among the first animals to be domesticated and therefore have a relationship with humans that stretches back for thousands of years. They can weigh over 700 pounds and move at up to 11 mph. Pigs are very social and intelligent animals. They were probably introduced to North America for the first time during the 1400s.

These guys have a reputation for eating just about anything. They are omnivores and can digest both plant and animal material. In total, they have 44 teeth and that includes 12 incisors, four canines, 16 premolars, and 12 molars. Their teeth are strong and sharp and can do a lot of damage to the human body.

Do Pigs Normally Attack Humans?

Most are placid and easy-going. Having said that, you do get some individuals who can be aggressive. Sadly, some pigs have attacked and even eaten humans! In 2012, an Oregon farmer was eaten by his pigs. However, there is no reliable data on the number of pig attacks on humans every year. In another incident, a 49-year-old male was found dead in his farm’s pigsty where he had been attacked by a sow. He had suffered severe blunt force injuries and he died from severe bleeding. Attacks by domestic pigs should be taken seriously. We also know that 15 percent of wild boar attacks result in a human fatality. It seems that this family had a lucky escape.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Viktoria Stolyarova/Shutterstock.com