They are known for descending on lawns and destroying them, but should wild boars be trapped and killed in the South Bay?
The San Jose city council is considering the controversial proposal. The wild pigs have been known to tear up lawns at golf courses and homes, as they search for grubs.
The problem is getting so bad the city enacted a temporary law allowing them to be trapped and killed--and the boar complaints started to dwindle.
The question now is if that law become permanent.
"Basically it’s a buffet for them," San Jose resident Gigi Michelle said. "They have grubs there, and they have water. Once they step on this pan, close the door."
In 2014, Michelle said the wild boars have destroyed her lawn and is keeping her up at night.
"Snort, grunting, and--oh yeah--they're destroying the grass," she said.
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Gigi said more than a dozen wild pigs live in the wooded area across the street from her San Jose condo, located near Coyote Creek and Forsum road--and some have even invaded homes.
"Once they come into your home, they are much more dangerous when they wander in there," San Jose City Councilman Johnny Khamis said.
In 2013, the wild pigs were such a big problem the San Jose city council passed the temporary ordinance allowing home owners to hire a licensed trapper to catch and kill the animals. That year, the new law didn’t seem to make a difference.
But in 2014, the pig population appeared to shrink. A total of 14 pigs were caught and killed in South San Jose.
"There are some that people are catching, and people are reporting a lot less sightings," Khamis said. "So, that’s a good thing."
On Tuesday, the city council is set to decide whether to make the temporary ordinance permanent--a plan councilman Khamis said he supports.
"We feel it's working," he said. "It hasn’t caused harm to the residents, and there have been no complaints, so this plan is starting to work, and we want to make sure it continues."
Khamis said he sees it as an effective way to protect people and their lawns.
But the law does not allow residents to shoot a boar in their backyards. They have to hire a professional, who has to follow very specific rules for trapping the animal and shooting it.
The temporary law is set to expire Feb. 2.
