Son of Hogzilla

National Geographic Channel Finds Hogzilla

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=7&u=/ap/20041122/ap_on_re_us/hogzilla_national_geographic_1

ALAPAHA, Ga. - The legend of Hogzilla, the prodigious porker that was supposedly shot on a nearby plantation, will be featured in a spring episode on the National Geographic Channel.

Since rumors of the hog's existence began spreading in June, newspapers around the world have carried stories on the half-ton beast that supposedly had 9-inch tusks and measured 12 feet long.

Two weeks ago, a group of forensic scientists and a National Geographic Channel television crew traveled to Alapaha and unearthed the animal's remains.

I still don't get why the guy killed it in the first place. He knew the meat wasn't edible--why would anyone do that?

1. Because he could.

2. Because hogzilla is the animal equivalent of having a 1,000 pound bulldozer rampaging in your backyard. And not just ANY bulldozer, but one straight out of a Stephen King story, that goes after anything that moves.

My question is was it actually causing problems in people's backyards? Or did I miss that in a story somewhere?

Yeah, my question is the same as Cyber's. The animal was a wild boar. Well, OK, did it eat small children? I doubt it. What if the animal had been nick-named "Miss Piggy" instead of "Hogzilla"? I bet it would still be alive, grunting around happily in the backwoods.

marichiko wrote:

Yeah, my question is the same as Cyber's. The animal was a wild boar. Well, OK, did it eat small children? I doubt it. What if the animal had been nick-named "Miss Piggy" instead of "Hogzilla"? I bet it would still be alive, grunting around happily in the backwoods.

Have you ever actually dealt with wild boars or feral pigs?

Troubleshooter wrote:

Have you ever actually dealt with wild boars or feral pigs?

Yeah, out here in Colorado they go by the name of the "Cattlemen's Association."

marichiko wrote:

Yeah, out here in Colorado they go by the name of the "Cattlemen's Association."

Ha ha. Good one, Mari! :thumbsup:

wolf wrote:

1. Because he could.

2. Because hogzilla is the animal equivalent of having a 1,000 pound bulldozer rampaging in your backyard. And not just ANY bulldozer, but one straight out of a Stephen King story, that goes after anything that moves.

If he had no choice but to kill it to protect himself or his family, that's fine. From my recollection of the original story though, that's not the case. And rationalizing anything with the "because he could" argument is pretty lame.

And rationalizing anything with the "because he could" argument is pretty lame.

I'm sure it does to you, but not to the people in question. Feral pigs are a nuisance critter to them and in the case of a feral boar, an extremely dangerous one. A 200 lb boar will kill a whole pack of dogs.

Keep in mind were not talking about Free Willy here. This is not a wild animal trying to reclaim some territory. Feral pigs are domestic livestock that have broken out and eluded capture long enough to become semi-wild. They do a lot of damage to the ecosystem and kill and displace many naturally occuring species. All over the world man has introduced pigs resulting in the extinction of thousands of species of mammals, birds and reptiles.

Why, feral pigs are almost as bad as people. :3eye:

Bruce, you are right about feral pigs and introduced wild boars being destructive to native ecosystems. However, these animals are actually quite shy and prefer to avoid man whenever possible. It is only when they are cornered or defending their young that they become vicious. In other words, if you go looking for trouble with your pack of coon hounds, you'll most likely find it. But the boar won't bring trouble to you if you leave him alone.

xoxoxoBruce wrote:

Why, feral pigs are almost as bad as people. :3eye:

Yeah... :D The only reason they aren't as bad is cuz they likely wouldn't have gotten to many places they are now without people help.

marichiko wrote:

Bruce, you are right about feral pigs and introduced wild boars being destructive to native ecosystems. However, these animals are actually quite shy and prefer to avoid man whenever possible. It is only when they are cornered or defending their young that they become vicious. In other words, if you go looking for trouble with your pack of coon hounds, you'll most likely find it. But the boar won't bring trouble to you if you leave him alone.

You may have pussy pigs in CO, but I've had these suckers actually challenge me for cattle feed. They smell it, they want it and they're willing to fight for it. Didn't ask them if they were willing to die for it because they I wouldn't get an answer and it annoys the pigs.
Kidding aside, it's no fun looking over your shoulder all the time. Never walking outside after dark without turning on the floodlights because they skulk in the dark trying to catch a chicken or duck sleeping. Or trying to do normal chores while trying to keep one hand fairly free.
Well golly, she was just protecting her babies, doesn't cut it when Mompig brings her brood onto your turf like Saddams human shields.
They should die like pigs. :p

Well, I've never met a wild boar, so I will defer to your first hand knowledge, Bruce. In the southwest the closest thing we have are peccaries, and they are pretty shy of human beings.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/07/23/stories/2002072301300500.htm

If this doesn't prove they're evil, nothing will. :)

Priest killed in wild boar attack

By Our Staff Reporter

PALAKKAD JULY 22. A priest, who was attacked by a wild boar, fell into the well in front of his house along with the animal and died in the attack in the early hours of Monday.

Fr. Joy (46), residing at Mezhukumpara in Mannarkkad taluk, came out of his house in the early hours of Monday when he heard some sound. In a bid to escape from the attack from the boar he fell into the well along with the animal.

The priest was taken out of the well by the local people and police. Though he was taken to the Mannarkkad Government hospital, he died on the way.

He is the priest of a Jacobite church of Puthekulavu in Vadakkancherry.

So a priest in India got chased by a wild boar and he fell into a well. Does that make it OK for people to kill any wild boar they see because they're so "evil"? I know nothing about wild boars, but I don't recall that the guy in the original "Hogzilla" story was ever threatened by this animal. I was out running recently and was chased and barked at pretty viciously by a couple big dogs. Should I go out and kill every dog I see because of this? Heck, if your life is in danger, you do what you gotta do. But to kill for the hell of it is pretty ridiculous.

So should I go back and edit it to include [sarcasm] tags?

barked at pretty viciously

I'm trying to put an image with this. :worried:

Well, I've never met a wild boar, so I will defer to your first hand knowledge, Bruce

Not wild Boar, ferral pigs and boars. Entirely different critter. :)

xoxoxoBruce wrote:

Not wild Boar, ferral pigs and boars. Entirely different critter. :)

Here's a question for ya: Some domestic pigs get loose and go feral. These pigs have piglets. Are those piglets Wild or Second-Generation Feral? :D

Cyber Wolf wrote:

Here's a question for ya: Some domestic pigs get loose and go feral. These pigs have piglets. Are those piglets Wild or Second-Generation Feral? :D

Pretty much one in the same according to Dictionary.com:

feral

\Fe"ral\, a. [L. ferus. See Fierce.] (Bot. & Zo["o]l.) Wild; untamed; ferine; not domesticated; -- said of beasts, birds, and plants.

Wild pigs and domesticated pigs are completely different critters. Turning dom pigs out fend for themselves will make them wild but it won't make them wild pigs anymore than turning your kids loose will make them monkeys. ;)

xoxoxoBruce wrote:

... anymore than turning your kids loose will make them monkeys. ;)

My kids are monkeys anyway. ;)

dar512 wrote:

My kids are monkeys anyway. ;)

Yeah, but are they domesticated or wild monkeys? ;)