Wild hogs tear through brand-new Babcock Ranch yards, sparking debate over wildlife and growth

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, (WINK) — Homeowners in one Babcock Ranch neighborhood say they moved into their brand-new homes expecting peace, quiet and nature — but instead woke up to their backyards torn apart.

The damage happened in the Tuckers Cove community, where several homes back up near preserved land. Homeowners told WINK News the problem started around May 1, just a few months after they closed on their homes in February. At first, they heard strange noises outside at night. Then, they saw what was left behind in the morning: lawns rooted up, grass ripped apart and large patches of dirt where their backyards used to be.

Video shared with WINK News shows hogs outside at night, with one homeowner trying to scare them away. Other video shows the damage left behind — including a sharp divide between one yard that was torn up and another property right next door that was untouched.

For homeowner Glen Wulff, the timing made the situation even more frustrating. He and his wife are in the process of retiring to Babcock Ranch full-time this summer after closing on their home earlier this year.

“It’s a great community for families… beautiful,” Wulff said. “But hey, hogs got me, so I want to see if they can take care of me.”

Wulff said he just wants the damage repaired.

“I just want my yard fixed,” Wulff said. “It was nice until they came. But what am I going to do about it?”

Homeowners told WINK News they reached out to their HOA, and a contracted trapper was brought in.

AG1 Enterprises later posted on Facebook that it trapped and removed 22 hogs from the Tuckers Cove community. In the post, the company said the removal was done to help protect residents’ properties from continued damage and nuisance activity.

The trapping quickly sparked a larger conversation online. Some people were upset over how the hogs were handled. Others said the animals had to be removed because of the damage they were causing.

Christina Kontos, Babcock Ranch’s Environmental Conservation Manager and Wildlife Biologist, told WINK News by phone that feral hogs are an invasive species in Florida and have been established in the state for centuries.

“We won’t be able to fully eradicate the species, because they’re so well established here,” Kontos said. “It’s a matter of managing the species.”

Kontos said Babcock Ranch has an adaptive feral hog management plan, and AG1 Enterprises is the community’s authorized hog trapper. She said AG1 is the only company allowed to trap hogs on Babcock Ranch property.

Kontos said that matters because the hog management program is monitored and tracked through Babcock Ranch’s Environmental Conservation Department. She said the hogs are humanely captured and relocated to a controlled hunting preserve.

According to Kontos, Babcock Ranch captures about 1,000 hogs every year through its hog control program.

Kontos said the damage is not limited to lawns. Feral hogs root into the ground looking for food, including grubs and insects. She said they can also spread invasive vegetation through preserves and impact native species, including ground-nesting birds such as turkeys and quail.

“There’s a lot of different impacts that this particular invasive species has on our native habitats and wildlife,” Kontos said. “They have to be controlled for ecosystem balance.”

Kontos said Babcock Ranch is built around the idea of coexisting with nature, but she said invasive species still have to be managed.

“We have to be able to learn to coexist with our wildlife,” Kontos said. “But we also have to know and understand that invasive species like wild hogs and Burmese pythons have to be managed.”

For residents who see a hog, Kontos said the most important thing is not to approach it.

“With a hog, just give it space. Go the other way,” Kontos said. “I always tell people, don’t run.”

Kontos said Babcock Ranch residents who see hog activity or notice damage should email the wildlife team with photos, their address and contact information. She said that information is then sent to the authorized hog trapper, who can respond and set up a trap if needed.

For now, AG1 Enterprises said the 22 hogs removed from Tuckers Cove should no longer be a problem for the community. But the damage left behind is still there.

And as more homes go up near preserved land, homeowners in Tuckers Cove are learning that living close to nature can sometimes mean nature gets a little too close.

Residents who observe feral hog activity or hog rooting are encouraged to contact the Babcock Ranch Wildlife Biologist at Wildlife@BabcockRanch.com and provide their name, address, phone number, details of sightings, and photos, if available.