Escambia County Works too Address Wild Hog Presence on Mason Lane
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – Escambia County Animal welfare is coordinating with its livestock officer and partner agencies to remove a group of wild hogs reported roaming in a wooded area off Mason Lane. Residents and business owners in the Brent area have expressed concerns about the animals’ presence for approximately two months.
Reports indicate at least ten hogs have been observed in the area, venturing into yards and near businesses. Juanita Lindsey, director of Whiz Kids Christian Academy, described frequently seeing the animals on her commute. ”I’ve seen about 10 pigs, about 10 hogs, and they run up and down the street all morning,” she said. Lindsey voiced a primary concern for the safety of children in the area, stating, “I just don’t want them to come anywhere near my kids. that’s,I mean,that’s my biggest fear to come anywhere near the kids.”
An employee at a nearby Raceway expressed similar anxieties, noting the hogs sometimes camp out near the parking lot, requiring extra caution when entering and exiting the building. “It’s not safe for the kids at all as them little children are outside playing… Who knows what could happen,” the employee stated.
the county believes the hogs may have originated from the Beggs Lane area, where a clearing of homeless camps in December 2024 resulted in the recovery of 41 animals, including a 200-pound pig. Resident Liz Gilliard, who has lived in the area for four and a half years, noted the unusual nature of the situation.”I’ve lived here for four and a half years, so I’ve never seen anything like that… but never wild pigs.”
Lindsey stated she contacted Escambia County Animal Control twice in the past two months regarding the issue. While acknowledging the reports, the county confirmed in a statement that so far, only one hog has been removed from the area.The county is actively working to address the situation and remove the remaining hogs.