Officials consider archery for pig problem

PLANTATION, Fla., March 12 (UPI) -- Officials in Florida said they caught one wild pig accused of tearing up lawns and they may authorize the use of bows and arrows to stop the others.

Dead or Alive Wildlife Removal, which called off its search for a pack of about 30 feral pigs in Plantation last week, told WPLG, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that trappers were called to a wooded area Thursday and captured a 40-pound sow that may have been a stray from the Plantation group or from a different group of pigs.

Meanwhile, the Plantation City Council said it will donate fencing material toward the trapping of the pigs and members said they may authorize bow and arrow use if the fence plan fails.

"If we're unsuccessful, there's no question it's a nuisance. It's a public safety issue," Councilman Jerry Fadgen said Thursday. "We have to take drastic action. I believe there are people who are proficient archers."

He said the city would have to allow an exception to rules declaring it animal cruelty to kill the pigs with arrows.

Trapper Jon Gherardi said there are estimated to be dozens of wild hogs in the Plantation area.