Wild hogs roaming Newton County elementary school grounds

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — The same Newton County elementary school where a fox attacked two students earlier this year has a new problem. Wild hogs are roaming the property.

The trapper said the hogs feed between midnight and 4 a.m. It’s during that time he hopes to eliminate the two females and one male.

Tim Ivey, with Eastern Wolfers, hopes all it will take is his .223 rifle and one night in a tree stand to kill two sows and their mate.

The wild hogs have been under his surveillance. For two weeks he said he's tracked their eating patterns from feeders he put out.

"I’ve tried hunting them during the day (and) not had any success," Ivey said.

The wild hogs are on Rocky Plains Elementary School's property. In May, two kids were attack by foxes Ivey said lived on the same stretch of land behind the school. He said the wild hogs are more of a nuisance than a threat.

“There's no imminent danger to any of the kids," Ivey said.

Ivey said the two sows can breed up to 48 piglets a year and this midnight hunting expedition is more for population control. He said the wild animal can cause $15,000 worth of property damage in just one night.

"They're so noisy when they are moving through the woods, you'll hear them coming," Ivey said.

Local wildlife officials said unless animals like a boar poses a threat to people, they should just be left alone. It is legal to hunt wild hogs year round.

WSBTV